Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In October 2022 the Department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school.Just last month, the Department issued a circular to all schools setting out new measures to support the forward planning of special education provision. Included in this circular was a reminder of the need for post-primary schools to continue with planning for this level of provision. As a result of this forward planning, four new special schools have opened for this school year and five more have been announced for the 2025-26 school year. Capacity is also expanded in a number of other special schools. The Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, has said that her Department and the NCSE will continue to monitor and review the need for further special classes and schools or the expansion of existing special schools over the coming months. The Department is committed to working in each area. As I have already set out, a SENO has been appointed for Longford to plan for the needs of the area.