John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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327. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to list the schools which have accommodated special need classes since 2021 for the areas Dublin 6w, Dublin 12, Dublin 24, Dublin 16 and Dublin 14; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42509/24]

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 NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. The attached list provides a breakdown of the schools who since 2021 have established a new special class in the areas requested.

Over 1,700 classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE in recent years, in this time 11 new special schools have also been established and many more expanded. For this school year alone over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,336. Of these, 602 are in County Dublin and 70 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 48 at primary level and 22 at post primary level.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers are available to assist and advise parents on their options and the supports available.

The number of Special Education Needs Organisers in the NCSE has increased from 65 to 120 at the start of this school year. The NCSE are planning to conduct almost 800 school planning visits in the months of September and October 2025. These visits will be key in terms of forward planning for the 2025/2026 school year.

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.