Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy. What I have in the reply is more of a rationale for the change and for the earlier date in terms of trying to have everything in place so places can be allocated in a timely manner and be in position. In terms of reopening the portal, according to the response I have it sounds unlikely. To be fair, the Deputy's suggestion about immediate communication with the parents and guidance for the SENOs does not seem like a big ask, and it is something I will certainly go back to Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, with. This is an area he is passionate about and he really has grabbed the bull by the horns in a sector that needs more support and more resources. I will certainly bring that back, but what I am going to outline here is the rationale for the change.

For children and young people with more complex needs, a special class can be provided and for children and young people with the most complex needs a special school place can be provided. Over 2,700 new special education places were provided for the 2025-26 school year, meaning there are now 3,741 special classes nationwide. The Department of Education and Youth will build on this figure next year by providing at least 3,000 new places, placing provision in locations where it is best placed to meet existing and future demand. In addition, 16 new special schools have been established in recent years. Special school capacity has also been expanded across a number of special schools nationwide. These schools are supported by the Department and the NCSE.

The NCSE will have a clear picture of local demand for special class and special school places for the 2026-27 school year after staff review and assess all the information that has been provided through the parents’ notification process, which was closed on 1 October, as the Deputy referenced. The new timeline was published widely and communicated with schools, special education advocacy groups and parent representative bodies. The NCSE also undertook a lot of work at local level to ensure that families were aware of the timeline and process. There was an undertaking in terms of public awareness, but with any of these new systems there are always gaps. It is inevitable and it always happens in the first year. The earlier notification deadline was introduced this year to support forward planning and to earlier equip the NCSE with local information as to what students would be leaving school, transitioning to post-primary specialist places or those seeking specialist placement and entering the education system for the first time. This information is critical when examining where provision needs to be placed to meet demand. This earlier date in October coincides with when schools begin enrolment processes so affords parents the opportunity to enrol in existing classes.

Many mainstream schools, particularly at post-primary level, commence admissions processes for the following school year on 1 October annually. The NCSE is also working on sanctioning the majority of new special classes for the 2026-27 school year by 31 December 2025. This is four months earlier than last year and will bring clarity and certainty for both parents and schools as to where classes will be located. It will also afford greater lead-in times for schools that require repurposing or major building works to get works complete and allow schools to recruit staff and undertake the training needed so that children are fully supported in these placements. Once the NCSE has fully collated and assessed the information received from the Parents Notify process, it will engage with schools across the country to open new special classes. The council will also have due regard to any vacant places in existing special classes in any area and any places that will become available through the normal movement of children leaving a primary or post-primary school. The council advises that the majority of children and young people coming to it through the Parents Notify process are already enrolled in school and are being supported by existing special education teachers and special needs assistants. With any date for applications for supports, it is important that those who come forward after that date are assured that they are not forgotten or excluded from the system. I would like to stress that NCSE staff will continue to support all children made known to them after 1 October.

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