Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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205. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application for an autism class by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27140/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

The NCSE have confirmed that the school referred to by the Deputy currently have one autism class. There are currently four students enrolled in this class and two places are available for 2024/25 school year. At this time there is no indication that a class will be required for the 2024/25 school year in this school.

My department and the NCSE work closely in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, work which is close to finalisation for the 2024/25 school year.

381 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 8 are in County Mayo, 3 at primary level and 5 at post-primary. This brings the overall number of special classes in the county to 73.

The NCSE is confident that through the provision of these classes and vacancies in existing classes there is sufficient places to meet the needs of all children known to them for September 2024.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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206. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the four autism classes announced for two schools in Dublin 4 (details supplied), which were announced in 2020, will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27153/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The Project referred to by the Deputy was approved to enter the department’s pipeline of school buildings to provide a four Classroom Special Educational Needs (SEN) base, a General purpose room and Ancillary under the department‘s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.

I can confirm that this project recently received my departments approval to go to planning and the department now awaits a post planning (developed design) report from the school for review.

At this early stage, it is not possible to predict when a significant school building project of this nature will go to construction, nor when it will be completed, as progress depends upon many contingent factors that can arise.

My department will continue to engage with the school authority to provide practical advice and assistance on this much needed project.