Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Department of Education, together with the NCSE, has been working with parents, schools, patron bodies and other stakeholders in County Louth and across the country to provide sufficient special education placements for children with special needs, in this case in the Louth area. By the end of this year, the number of special classes available nationally in mainstream schools will have doubled from 1,800 to more than 3,700 for the 2025-26 school year. This includes 400 classes the NCSE will sanction for this September.

Of the 409 new special classes sanctioned by the NCSE for the current year, 289 are at primary level and 120 are at post-primary level. Of the new special classes sanctioned for the 2024-25 school year, 16 are in County Louth - 13 at primary level and three at post-primary level. That brings us to the nub of the point that the Deputy wants to make, namely, that there be a focus on the post-primary level. I will take that request back. The total number of special classes in County Louth is 98 - 75 at primary level and 23 at post-primary level. I take the point made by the Deputy and we will work with her and the communities in County Louth to make sure we address any shortfalls.

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