Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional places that will be created in SEN classes attached to mainstream schools at primary and secondary level in the Dublin west area for September 2025; and how many extra places are being provided in each school, in tabular form [8433/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of additional places that will be created in special schools in the Dublin west area for September 2025; how many extra places are being provided in each school, in tabular form. [8434/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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152. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the work of the Dublin 15 schools taskforce; and if she will state with confidence that all children in Dublin west will be able to avail of an appropriate school placement, be it in a special class attached to main stream primary or secondary schools, or in special schools, in September 2025. [8435/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 to 152, inclusive, together.

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).

Of the 3,336 special classes nationwide, 602 are in County Dublin. 69 of these were newly sanctioned for the 2024/25 school year, 48 at primary level and 21 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.

As you are aware, a taskforce to support the forward planning of special education provision in the Dublin 15 (D15) area was recently established. The taskforce will consider a number of initiatives including the development of a common application system for admission to primary special classes. The taskforce will conclude its work and make its recommendations to my department in quarter two this year.

The NCSE advise my department that in accordance with a new circular letter issued by my department and through their direct involvement in the new common applications trial, they have a detailed account of the need for places in the area for the coming school year.

The NCSE continue to assess what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. The NCSE continue to work very closely with my department and a number of accommodation solutions are being progressed to ensure additional capacity in the area. A number of new special classes have already been sanctioned by the NCSE for the Dublin 15 area ahead of the next school year 2025/2026. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of further 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.

Additional classroom accommodation is also being provided to Danú special school and the new special school being established in Lucan for the coming school year will also provide placement opportunities for some students in the greater D15 and Dublin West area.

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 SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.

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