Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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355. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and second level special classes at present in the Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 areas with a full list of these classes. [43932/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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356. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and second level special classes there were in Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. [43933/24]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide a list of new special classes sanctioned and yet to be delivered in the Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 areas. [43934/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 to 357, inclusive, 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.

Over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/05 school year. This brings to 3,337 the number of special classes nationwide. The vast majority of these are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6. 42 of these classes are in the Dublin 9 and Dublin 11 areas, 33 at primary and 9 at post-primary level. This is an increase of 200% compared to 2019 when there were 14 autism classes in operation in the area, 12 at primary and 2 at post primary level. 7 of these are new for the 2024/25 school year.

The link below provides a list of special classes in operation for the 2024/25 school year while the table below outlines the number of classes in each of the areas for each of the years requested.

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.

The NCSE have recruited additional special education needs organisers (SENOs), advisors and team managers. The total number of SENOs has increased from 65 to 120. There are now 28 SENOs operating in County Dublin. SENOs play an important role in ensuring there is adequate special educational provision within local areas and are currently visiting schools nationwide to conduct planning meetings.

These visits will be key in terms of forward planning for the 2025/26 school year and will involve schools who had previously indicated a willingness to open special classes. While the preference will be to open new classes in medium and larger schools that have available accommodation, additional accommodation will be provided where necessary to meet identified need.

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 SENOs are available to assist and advise parents on their options and the supports available.

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