Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 2 July 2024, to provide a detailed breakdown of the specific measures being taken to expand capacity in a number of special schools across Dublin; which schools; how capacity is being expanded; the timeframe for delivery on each of these specific measures; the reason for the decision making process which was used to select these measures and the associated schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30073/24]

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.

Responsibility for ensuring the provision of special school places lies with the NCSE and I am determined to ensure that all children who require a special school placement can access this as quickly as possible. Ahead of the new school-year, I am meeting with the NCSE on a weekly basis to discuss progress being made and work plans to ensure that every child has a school place for the coming term.

My department works closely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. In the Budget last year, funding was secured for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, and an additional 300 special school places for the 2024/25 school year. This will deliver 2,700 new places for children.

Since 2020, the government has invested in the region of €4.8 billion of capital funding in schools throughout the country. In April, Minister Foley announced that 90 school building projects would move from tender to construction during 2024 and early 2025.

These projects include 138 classrooms for children with special educational needs and new buildings for two special schools which moved to construction earlier this year. During 2022 and 2023 alone, the school building programme provided accommodation for 80 additional or modernised classrooms in special schools and 459 classrooms for special classes in mainstream schools.

At a local level, I would like to assure the Deputy that there is ongoing engagement between the NCSE and individual special schools in relation to expanding capacity to meet increasing demand. Special schools in Dublin which are expanding for the coming school-year include Libermann, Stewarts and St. Michael’s House special schools.

The Department of Education and the NCSE are working to increase special school capacity for the 2025/2026 school year and beyond. Where additional special school places are needed, the preference is generally to expand capacity in existing schools. However, consideration is being given to whether further new special schools, in addition to the 11 recently established or those currently being established, are required in certain locations. As part of this work, the NCSE is examining known demand in areas, the distances children are travelling to special schools and capacity in an area to expand special schools which already exist. This work is ongoing and is expected to be substantially completed in late autumn. A number of regions are under consideration for special school provision.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.