Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I have been raising this issue, including through parliamentary questions, for quite some time. It is the matter of Wombles Pre-school at Scoil Mhuire, Airlie Heights. While the Department correctly acknowledges that it has no direct role in the provision of childcare services based in the school, everyone acknowledges that the service is essential. There were 46 early childhood care and education, ECCE, and 54 after-school places but a total of 66 places are at risk of being removed, because a classroom was due to be taken out of the school as the NCSE was looking to get an additional autism class in. I tried to get a win-win situation where some form of modular room could be brought into the grounds of the school, which would mean the autism class would not be taken away while Wombles Pre-school could continue where it is. It is a valuable source of income to Scoil Mhuire in employing therapists. Many of the children who go to Wombles have siblings in the primary school at junior or senior level.

In that context, it was interesting to hear very recently that the autism class might not be proceeded with this year. That would take away the immediate risk to Wombles, but I would like some clarity on a couple of issues, including in the supplementary response. Will a modular build be put in to facilitate an autism class? If so, will it be in place for this September? I know I am putting the Minister of State on the spot. He is aware of south Dublin from our shared time on the council, but there are plans for a 32-classroom school in the Adamstown strategic development zone, which should be built on a vacant site. It has full planning permission. There is no reason for the Department not to push ahead with this, which would also facilitate a number of autism classes and help parents in some of the neighbouring estates who cannot get into Scoil Mhuire because it is already full as regards its catchment area.

There is a mixture of issues here. We need to get some of the schools that were promised built. We also need to make sure that the autism classes in Lucan open as quickly as possible because they are not in every school in Lucan and there is a huge demand. Given the fact that quite a number of preschools in the Lucan area have closed down or left the scheme, and it is very hard to find alternative facilities, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that a long-standing and successful preschool should be able to continue to operate. As I said, it should not be case of either-or.

While I welcome the special school that is being brought into north Lucan, I reiterate that moving Lucan East Educate Together at Easter does not make any sense at all. South Dublin County Council is not prepared for that in respect of its traffic management plans.

I ask for whatever information the Minister of State has about the autism classes. Are there any details of discussions held between the Department and the patron of the school regarding Wombles Pre-school? The most recent response I got to my parliamentary question indicated that such conversations were under way.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for asking the question. I stress that enabling students with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is an absolute priority for the Government. It is the Government's priority to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that necessary supports are provided to our schools to allow children with special educational needs to flourish and prosper.

To ensure schools can open new special classes as quickly as possible, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is examining which schools have capacity to expand and is reaching out to medium and larger primary schools with available accommodation, and no existing special class, to open a new special class for the 2025-26 school year. This will not only ensure that classes can open quickly, as existing accommodation can be reconfigured in a more streamlined and efficient manner, but it will also provide more options for parents in local areas as more and more schools open specialist provision. However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level, and there is a known demand in a local area, the Department of Education will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.

At local level in Lucan, and indeed nationwide, the NCSE continues to examine where provision is best placed to meet demand. I confirm that the council has ruled out sanctioning a special class at Scoil Mhuire for the coming school year. The council is confirming this directly with the school now to avoid any confusion. As new special classes are sanctioned in other schools, it will inform parents and provide advice and support on how to apply.

Of the 400 new special classes to be sanctioned for the next school year, the NCSE has sanctioned more than 350, with classes provided in every county. A total of 66 of these classes are in Dublin, with a number in the Lucan and broader west Dublin area. The council continues to sanction classes. These will be added to in the coming days.

The Minister for Education, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State with responsibility for special education, Deputy Michael Moynihan, both meet the NCSE and senior Department of Education officials on a weekly basis to track the progress being made on securing additional classes and special school places.

I will raise the other issues the Deputy mentioned here.

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State. Scoil Mhuire is well equipped to provide autism support. For example, two staff members recently completed a master's of education in autism. It is a capable school, which does its best for students of all backgrounds.

I am still looking for further clarity, if it pleases the Minister of State, on whether we can say that ten years down the line Wombles Pre-School will still be able to operate from Scoil Mhuire. I am looking for some kind of guarantee in that respect.

If the autism class does not open in Scoil Mhuire this year, can we get clarity for any parents looking for a place that they will be offered a place elsewhere in the Lucan area? Can we get a guarantee on how quickly we can put a modular building on the site? There is some demand in that part of Lucan so I would like some more clarity on that if there were any plans. I heard on the grapevine that the NCSE would look at putting a modular building at Scoil Mhuire, Airlie Heights, but that it might not be for another year. Why can that not happen in September, for example?

Will the Minister of State communicate back to the Minister for Education the absolute urgency of the need to open that 32-classroom school and get things moving at the Tandy's Lane site which is close to Scoil Mhuire in Adamstown, strategic development zone, SDZ. There is a shortage of primary school places in general as well as an ongoing requirement for autism classes throughout the Lucan area.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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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.