Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the provision of ASD places for mid-Cork secondary schools to meet the demand required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23833/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I understand this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for September. I would like to assure parents that this government is determined and committed to alleviating the pressures faced by families seeking a special educational placement and we are working hard to make the process easier.

Over 320 new special classes have been sanctioned by the National Council for Special education (NCSE) for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 57 are in Cork of which 37 are at primary level and 20 at post-primary level. Of the 57 sanctioned for the forthcoming school year, 6 are in the Deputy's constituency of North-West Cork. This brings the total number of special classes in the county to 553.

The vast majority of these are autism classes which have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6. The NCSE continue to sanction classes for the coming school year and as these new classes are sanctioned, the NCSE will support families to make applications for places.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements are available for children. There is ongoing forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, which involves a detailed review of statistical data to forecast demand for special class places, analysis of available school accommodation and consideration of improved data sharing arrangements among stakeholders.

There is a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level where demand for new special classes is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to changing demographics and increasing prevalence rates of special educational needs. This strategic approach to forward planning has resulted in almost 3,000 special classes and the establishment of eleven new special schools in recent years and the expansion of many others.

Parents seeking a special class placement for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.

This government has provided significant additional resources and funding of €13 million to the NCSE to allow for the expansion of its services, which will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on families on what can be a very difficult time.

This funding has allowed for, among other things, a significant increase in the number of SENOs which will increase from 73 to 120 by next September. These SENOs will work closely with children, their families and schools on the ground in order to provide the necessary supports.

Additional administrative support staff, team managers and other professionals are also being employed to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.