Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)

Every child is entitled to and has a constitutional right to an education. It is the Government's job to vindicate that right, especially for children with additional educational needs. Schools and parents consistently highlight the value of special schools and classes, particularly where there are challenges in the system with the provision of a broader range of disability supports. This is a key priority of the Government. I have established a Cabinet subcommittee on disability more generally. I have also established a disability unit within my Department to drive change and transformation in respect of all aspects of disability in Irish society.

More specifically, in terms of special education, 407 special classes are being created this year, with close to 2,700 new special education placements for the 2025-26 school year. An additional 1,200 places are available due to student movement, bringing the total number of available places close to 4,000 for the 3,275 students who are seeking them. The key issue will be in terms of geography and making sure that children have access to schools close to them. That is an important consideration. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, have both been working extremely hard on this matter. As the Deputy knows, we are close to establishing an in-school therapy service. This will begin in special schools in the country and will provide in-school therapists for children in special schools. We will then expand it to the entire cohort of special schools and to mainstream education after that. A huge effort has been made to get places in position by September. This is being done in conjunction with the NCSE, which, in turn, works with and liaises with schools.

Five new special schools are being established. Some will not be entirely ready by September, although temporary alternatives are being provided in respect of those where building works are being carried out. For next year and the year after, we are looking at bringing forward the application dates to make sure that there is better identification of need earlier in order to plan for the subsequent year. A pilot programme is under way in respect of the common application system that would ease the burden for parents.

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