Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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478. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans she has in place for the opening of an autism class in a school (details supplied); if this classroom will be open by September 2027 for autistic students transitioning from the autism class in the local primary school. [45088/24]

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.

I am advised that the school referred to by the Deputy has a building project application with my department. This project includes provision for two special education classes. The project has been at stage 1 phase since August 2022. My department has not received any further progress reports from the school in relation to this build. Next steps include the submission of a stage 1 report by the school authority to my department .

The NCSE, who has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. I would like to assure parents that where there is known demand for special education provision in an area my department and the NCSE will provide the necessary supports and capital funding to ensure there is adequate provision for their children within that local area.

Almost 1,700 classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE over the last number years, 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 3,337.

59 of these classes are in County Cavan, 7 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 6 at primary level and 1 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.

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. Just last month my department issued a circular to all schools setting out new measures to support the forward planning of special education provision. Included in this circular was a reminder of the need for post primary schools to continue planning for this level of provision.

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. A total of 120 SENOs now operate nationwide, two of these are operating solely in County Cavan. 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.

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.