Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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449. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the progress of a second modular building as a SEN base to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2714/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my department is in receipt of an Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) application from the school in question.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.

The Department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. 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 level

The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for government. The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) are at unprecedented levels.

In 2024, the department spent 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 3,336 special classes in operation nationwide for this school year. These classes can provide for over 21,000 students. 408 of these are new for the current school year – 289 at primary and 119 at post-primary level.

Of the 124 special schools nationwide, 4 special schools have been established for this school year and further capacity has been expanded in 11 other special schools. Five more will be added for the 2025/26 school year in counties Cork, Dublin, Monaghan and Tipperary. This will bring to 16 the number of new special schools opened in recent years. Over 9,000 students are currently enrolled in special schools.

An additional €159 million in funding will be made available to provide for a further 768 teachers, and a further 1,600 SNAs to be recruited in 2025, to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs.

In addition, a dedicated special education innovation fund in recognition of the need to continually evolve and examine best practice to support children with special educational needs has received funding. Funding has been secured for targeted measures to help children with special educational needs with planning and transitioning to and from the various level of our education system. It has also been provided for supporting teachers and SNA’s in their enhanced training requirements.

The largest investment in the Summer Programme has also been secured.

This €62 million investment will allow the department to continue to prioritise the most vulnerable children in our society, those with the most complex special educational needs and those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to access the additional support that they need during the summer.

I can advise the Deputy that the application from the school in question is currently being considered by my officials. Once the assessment process has been finalised the school authority will be notified of the decision directly.