Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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217. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the significant disparity between primary school special classes and secondary school special classes in terms of school places for children; the actions she is taking to address the issue of school places for children in special classes in secondary schools; to provide a guarantee that there will be sufficient school places for all children in special classes in autumn 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38983/24]

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.

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.

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.

The NCSE will be undertaking 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.

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.