Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of autism and special education class spaces currently in County Leitrim. [37845/24]

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 2024/25 school year bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,333 - 2,337 at primary level and 996 at post-primary level.

Of these, 4 are in Leitrim - 3 at primary and 1 at post-primary, bringing the total number of special classes in Co. Leitrim to 31, 16 at primary level and 15 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these are autism classes which have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.