Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy again for raising the question. I will of course convey back to the Minister the additional points he raised here. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department of Education and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that all children have access to education suitable to their needs. The Department of Education continues to engage intensely with the NCSE on forward planning for new special classes for the 2025 to 2026 school year and future years. More than 28,000 children are now being supported in special schools and classes with the number of special classes increasing by 100% since 2020. It is the statutory responsibility of the NCSE to work with schools to provide sufficient special education provision each year. As already outlined, budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 new special classes, up to 300 additional special school places. The NCSE continues to assess what additional provision is required in local areas and which schools have capacity to accommodate the required provision. As the NCSE progresses the sanctioning of new special classes in the coming days, it will in turn advise parents of the location of any new special classes for the 2025 to 2026 school year.

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