Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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709.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up-to-date position regarding the provision of a special school in County Monaghan, as the need for such school provision has been clearly identified for some time; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35955/24]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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710.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when her Department and the NCSE will finalise the review in relation to the need for further new special schools and the expansion of existing special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter.[35956/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 709 and 710 together.

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.

There are 124 NCSE supported special schools throughout the country. These schools support over 8,800 students nationwide. My department and the NCSE continue to monitor and review the need for further new special schools and the expansion of existing special schools in all areas of the country including County Monaghan. It is estimated that a further 300 new special school places may be required nationwide each year for the coming years.

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 those recently 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 potential capacity in 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 progressing this review work ahead of determining where additional capacity is required, in existing special schools, or, in what regions a new special school may need to be established for the 2025/26 school year.