Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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399. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the additional accommodation application made by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44354/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that following consultation with the school and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) a traditional building project for two Special education classrooms was approved in 2021 for the school in question under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme.

The purpose of the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.

The school have subsequently submitted a request to alter the proposed brief.

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 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.

In 2024, the department will spend over €2.7 billion on special education and further progress will be made in 2025 as an additional €159 million has been dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. Over a quarter of the entire education budget has been dedicated to special education in recent years. The main supports this funding provides for are special classes, SNAs and special education teachers.

The NCSE has advised that there are 3,337 special classes in operation nationwide for this school year. These classes can provide for over 21,000 students. 409 of these are new for the current school year – 289 at primary and 120 at post-primary level.

Over the last number of years, the department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient mainstream, special class and special school places.

These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,700 new special classes sanctioned and eleven new special schools established over the last number of years. The department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting best fitting their educational need. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2025/26 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary.

The alteration to the proposed brief is currently being considered and has been referred to the Department's Technical team for guidance.

Officials in my department are also currently engaging with the NCSE in relation to the accommodation requirements for these classes. The school will be contacted directly once this process is complete.

I can only seek to assure you that we will advance this matter as quickly as possible.