Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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592.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new ASD classes sanctioned at both primary and secondary level in Dublin 9 and Dublin 11, as of August 2024, compared to 2019, in tabular form.[34776/24]

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.

Over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/05 school year. This brings to 3,333 the number of special classes nationwide. The vast majority of these are autism classes of which 42 are in the Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 areas, 33 at primary and 9 at post-primary level. This is an increase of 200% compared to 2019 when there were 14 autism classes in operation in the area, 12 at primary and 2 at post primary level.

The table below outlines these figures.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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593.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of SNA’s allocated to schools throughout the country and for a comparison with the total allocation in 2019, in tabular form.[34777/24]

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).

Special needs assistants (SNAs) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools ensuring that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential. There is now over double the number of SNAs in schools compared to 2011 and Budget 2024 provided for a further 1,216 posts.

The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs.

The table below provides a comparison of the total allocation of SNAs by the NCSE in 2019 and 2024.

The NCSE has published the SNA allocations for each school for the 2024/25 school year. Details of each school's allocation is available on the NCSE's website at www.ncse.ie/set-hours-and-sna-allocations.

Schools can apply to the NCSE for a review of its SNA allocation if they feel their allocation is insufficient to meet the needs of its students. Detailed information on the NCSE review process is also published on the NCSE website available at www.ncse.ie/application-for-sna-exceptional-review.

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.