Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will ensure a school placement in a special school in Tipperary for a child (details supplied) in September 2025; to provide an update on her measures to increase capacity in special schools in Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8194/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive a befitting 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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs. They advise that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) is working closely with the student’s family regarding options for school placements and other special education supports for the coming academic year.

Of the 3,336 special classes nationwide, 138 are in County Tipperary. 16 of these were newly sanctioned for the 2024/25 school year, 12 at primary level and 4 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.

A new special school is being established in Nenagh for the coming school year also. The local ETB have advertised for a principal for the new school and expect to commence the admissions process for the new special school shortly.

The NCSE has completed over 1,000 school planning visits in recent months. These planning visits have been key to the NCSE in determining what new provision can be provided. The NCSE continue to assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENO's directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of new special classes over the coming weeks they will advise parents in turn on the location of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.