Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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386. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new special classes that will be established in secondary schools in the 2020-21 school year; and the number of these new classes that are ASD special classes. [39744/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Nationwide, there are 69 new special classes opened in secondary schools for the current school-year, of which 65 are ASD classes.

Additional classes may also be created in areas where there is an identified need between now and the end of the school year.

Next year, over 20% of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs.

This investment will support the provision of over 1,200 additional special class places.