Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how a school (details supplied) can submit an application for an SEN room; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43798/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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As you are aware 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.

I appreciate and commend the efforts taken by boards of management in expressing their interest to open a special class. The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs and can be contacted directly in this regard. They actively encourage expressions of interest from schools to open special classes.

When assessing the needs in the local area, the NCSE identify schools in the neighbouring vicinity with available special class vacancies and assess their capability with consideration to demographical and statistical data. My department will ask the NCSE to engage directly with the school referred to by the Deputy to provide advice on this matter.

The NCSE have recruited additional special education needs organisers (SENOs), advisors and team managers. SENOs play an important role in ensuring there is adequate special educational provision within local areas. The total number of SENOs has increased from 65 to 120. These SENOs are currently visiting schools to conduct planning meetings. The NCSE plan to conduct up to 800 of these visits by the end of this month.

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, 563 are in County Cork and 66 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 43 at primary level and 23 at post primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide and it is estimated that a similar level of provision will be needed each year for the next 3 years.

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.