Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when special education classes will be opened in four Dublin 12 schools (details supplied); and to provide a response on each individual school, in tabular form. [38581/24]

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the number of special education classes in a school (details supplied) will be expanded beyond its existing one class, given the feeder primary school currently has seven classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38582/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 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.

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.

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 3,336 - 2,338 at primary level and 998 at post-primary level. In Dublin 12, there are 25 primary special classes and 10 post primary special classes.

As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.

In October 2022, my department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school. The department and the NCSE continue to have engagement with post-primary school management bodies in relation to the provision of special classes.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local 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.

The number of SENOs has increased from 65 to 120 at the start of this school year and the NCSE plan to undertake almost 800 school planning visits through September and October. These visits will consider the forward planning of special education provision for the 2025/2026 school year.

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.