Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her current views on the availability of special education placements in the east Cork area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40462/26]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and the National Council for Special Education continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year, 2026-27. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes in January of this year, which is several months earlier than last year. In addition, we recently announced inclusive special classes as part of a new approach to supporting students with additional needs. This is one of many ways my Department is actively engaging to meet the increased demand.

To date, 546 new special classes have been sanctioned, including 47 inclusive special classes. Of these, 63 are sanctioned in County Cork. Some further new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks. These new special classes will be in addition to the 617 already in operation across schools in County Cork. In the Cork East constituency specifically, there are 145 special classes in mainstream schools this school year. Some 87 of these have been newly established since 2020. In addition to providing additional special class places, four new special schools have been established in County Cork in recent years, including one in east Cork. The East Cork Community Special School continues to grow and expand to meet the increasing level of need.

My Department and the NCSE will continue to closely monitor the need for further special class and special school places in east Cork over the coming months, and as part of forward planning for the 2027-28 school year. The NCSE also continues to engage closely with schools and families to track the placement of children and young people and determine the current remaining level of need for specialist places at a local level.

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I wish to highlight the need for the provision of a special education placement in east Cork, where children and their parents are currently travelling long distances to secure a place. People are travelling daily from east Cork to special schools in Cork city, Dungarvan and further afield, often resulting in an almost 100 km round trip. Does the Minister of State agree that it is unfair that children with complex needs have to travel long distances, far from familiar surroundings, while their siblings attend school nearby? We have long had a lack of special education facilities in east Cork. This was somewhat addressed by the opening of a special school in Carrigtwohill in recent years. However, local demand for these places, unfortunately, far outstrips current supply, with waiting lists putting huge pressure on parents. These parents are already under enough stress in dealing with children with complex additional needs. There is, therefore, an acute need for the establishment of a special school between Carrigtwohill and Youghal in east Cork. Given the travel times for special students in towns like Youghal, does the Minister of State see Youghal as a viable option for the establishment of a new school?

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I am well aware of the campaign and discussions. I have met with the group and have committed to meeting with it again to discuss this further. In east Cork and the area the Deputy represents, there has been a huge growth in population, which increases the need for specialised education. One of the issues we have been looking at in the Department is people travelling long distances for specialised education. Between 2025 and 2026, almost 1,000 special classes have been opened across the country to try to meet the needs as locally as possible. In east Cork, the opening of the school at Carrigtwohill has met the needs within that community. We are acutely aware of the growing needs in this regard. We are continuing to monitor and study the figures to ensure we have specialised education as close as possible to the children, so we can eliminate the need to drive long distances. Those issues are getting careful consideration across the Department.

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister of State is aware of the Bridging the Gap Youghal group set up by local parents, who are doing tremendous work in advocating strongly that local gaps in special education provision be addressed. These parents are concerned because there is currently only one special school place available for the 2026-27 school year in the only secondary school in the Youghal area. Does the Minister of State appreciate the serious and legitimate concerns raised by these parents? The need for places is evident and only seems to be increasing. With this in mind, I ask the Minister of State to outline the dialogue he has had to date with this group, and his plans and the plans of his departmental officials to further engage with Bridging the Gap, the NCSE and the education and training board, ETB. If the Minister could arrange a meeting with them, I would really appreciate it.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm that we met the group some time ago, and we are committed to meeting it again. We are monitoring this across the country, and Youghal and east Cork are no different. We are watching the number of children who have applied through the portal for specialised education, whether in special schools or special classes, to ensure we are meeting the needs in those communities. The data from the portal allowed us to have a lens into how we were tackling specialised education. The aim across the education system is to reduce the travel time. The special school has opened in east Cork. I offer my thanks to Cork ETB for the work it has done in collaboration with the National Council for Special Education and the Department. It has opened a number of schools and taken on a hugely valued role that other patrons would have had heretofore.

I am committed to meeting the groups. I understand the challenges. Entry into primary school or secondary school is a flashpoint for families. We will engage further. I assure the Deputy that we are aware of the concerns and the campaigns that are ongoing. We are reflecting very carefully on all of that.