Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in hand to address the lack of special classes in secondary schools in north Kildare; whether additional classes will be made available to facilitate the child of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38795/24]

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 me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, 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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.

In relation to the child referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE has advised my department the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) has provided the family with information relating to the criteria for enrolment in a special class and information on schools with special classes in the area. The SENO remains available to provide any further support to the family.

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 3,335 - 2,338 at primary level and 997 at post-primary level.

Of these, 16 are in Kildare, 12 at primary level and 4 at post primary level. This brings the overall number of special classes in County Kildare to 131.

The NCSE will be undertaking planning visits to schools during term 1 of this school year to assist with the forward planning of special class provision for the 2025/26 school year. In 2022, the department wrote to all post-primary schools to ask them to begin planning to provide on average 4 special classes each over the coming years. This message is being discussed in ongoing Department and NCSE engagement with post-primary education stakeholders also.

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 will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.