Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the number of new special classes and special schools sanctioned for September 2025; if she will guarantee these will all be open by September 2025 and fully resourced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16978/25]

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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Iarraim ar an Aire nua-shonrú a thabhairt ar líon na ranganna speisialta nua agus na scoileanna speisialta a cheadaíodh i Mheán Fómhair 2025. An féidir léi a dheimhniú go mbeidh gach cheann dóibh oscailte mhí Mheán Fómhair na bliana seo?

I would like the Minister to provide an update on the number of new special classes and special schools sanctioned for September 2025. Can she guarantee that these will be opened this September?

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for the question. This Government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential, and the programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. Up to an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special classes for, on average, six children each, and 300 special school places will be provided for the coming school year 2025-2026. The NCSE has sanctioned more than 375 new special classes to date, and I think the figure could be up to 390. It is engaging intensely with schools and patron bodies to confirm additional classes as soon as possible. Working groups are also progressing the establishment of five new special schools and capacity is being increased in a number of existing special schools, particularly in Cork and Dublin. On top of this, there will be well in excess of 1,200 places available through the normal annual movement of students progressing and graduating. There also remains special classes with vacant places in some areas of the country.

A number of new measures to support the forward planning of special education provision was set out in Circular 0080/2024. These included new measures to address a challenge of the NCSE not knowing about some of the children seeking specialist placements previously. Parents of children with special educational needs seeking specialist placements were asked to notify the NCSE by 1 February. This deadline was extended to mid-February due to the inclement weather at the start of February. The NCSE received 3,275 verified notifications by mid-February. I want to thank all of the parents who notified the NCSE. Through the 2,700 new places being created and the more than 1,200 places in existing special classes and schools, there are close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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Tá lán-fáilte chuig na figiúirí agus na huimhreacha sin a thug an tAire Stáit dúinn ach is iad na focal is tábhachtaí ná "they are provided" agus "they are sanctioned". It is important these are actually open. As a former primary school teacher of nearly 20 years, with at least eight of those in special education, and now as Sinn Féin's spokesperson on special education, I am deeply concerned for the many families in Ireland who are struggling to secure appropriate school places for their children. Last week alone, I was contacted by six different families in south Kildare desperate because they have been unable to secure an appropriate place for their children in a special class or school. These are not isolated incidents. Parents from across the State have been campaigning relentlessly for years and there is still no sufficient action from the Department. This failure of Government year on year left parents with no alternative last week, as many took to the streets to sleep rough for the second time in the hopes the voices of their neglected children would be heard. While the numbers of new special classes and schools being planned for September are welcome, we need a commitment today not only that there will be places but that they will actually be opened.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for the supplementary questions. I met a number of parents and have met with them over many years in respect of special educational needs. I know the stress they are under. I cannot overstate how hard the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I have worked over recent weeks to ensure we would have a place for every child in September. We are working extremely hard with the NCSE and the Department of Education officials to ensure all of the 400 special classes are opened by September. We are a number of months ahead of where we were this time last year because of the work that has been put in. I believe the NCSE has created sufficient capacity for children who need special classes in September. It is important we take note that the deadline was 1 February this year and our intention is to have that deadline earlier in the school cycle so there would be certainty for families earlier in the school year.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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Tuigim an tábhachtacht a bhaineann leis na huimhreacha atá cuirthe ar fáil, ach an rud is tábhachtaí ná go mbeidh na spásanna oiriúneach do na páistí. There is another issue that is coming up. I and my colleagues have had many parents contacting us regarding SNA allocations. In one case, 15 students were told on Friday that their SNA allocation was being withdrawn on Monday. In two other schools, reviews are indicating there will be a reduction in SNAs for September. In another school, a review recommended additional SNA support but the school was told no additional supports would be provided because it has already reached its cap. Has there been a change in approach or policy? Can the Minister of State guarantee there will be no reduction in supports to children? Many of these children are in inappropriate class settings due to their not being able to get their appropriate class. They are the ones who are most vulnerable. They rely heavily on the SNAs. These decisions are deeply affecting students who are already vulnerable. It will worsen their educational experience if the reduction in SNA support happens. Ní mór dúinn cinntiú go bhfaigheann na páistí seo na hacmhainní ceart chun forbairt, ní amháin maireachtáil.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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There is absolutely no policy change in relation to SNAs. We have more SNAs working in the education system and more budgeted for the school year 2025-2026. I take this opportunity of acknowledging the enormous work the SNAs do in the entire school communities. The work they do in special education, the dedication they put into it and the connection they have with the children and families is second to none. We should acknowledge the great work the SNAs do. We are committed to having more SNAs working within the education system because this means we will have a more inclusive society and support in the classroom for children who need it, right through the school year, not just in primary but right through the school cycle.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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There has been no change; this is just a coincidence?

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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No change.