Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on the progress of the Dublin 15 taskforce on special education places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8536/25]

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).

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. 209 special classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. 34 of these are in County Dublin. It is expected that the NCSE will sanction the remainder of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year in the coming weeks.

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.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when additional special classes will be sanctioned; if she will ensure that all students with additional needs will have an appropriate school place for the 2025/2026 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8601/25]

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).

There are 3,336 special classes nationwide, 408 of these were newly sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year, 289 at primary level and 119 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.

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. 209 special classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. It is expected that the NCSE will sanction the remainder of the new special classes for the 2025/26 school year in the coming weeks. Five new special schools are also being established and capacity is being expanded in other special schools. Allocations of special education teaching posts for the next school year have recently been provided to schools and SNA allocations will be confirmed by the NCSE to schools in quarter two this year.

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.

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

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her proposals to ensure that there is a suitable school place for every child with special educational needs in County Monaghan in September 2025. [8609/25]

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).

Of the 3,336 special classes nationwide, 54 are in County Monaghan. 7 of these were sanctioned for the 2024/25 school year, 6 at primary level and 1 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.

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. 209 special classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Three of these are in County Monaghan. It is expected that the NCSE will sanction the remainder of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year in the coming weeks.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local 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.

As announced last year, five new special schools will be established for the 2025/26 school year, one of these will be in County Monaghan and will be located in Castleblaney. The special school will operate under the patronage of Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB).

Parents and families looking to apply for admission to the new special school will be supported and guided by the NCSE at local level and kept updated on developments. The NCSE are holding information events with interested parents of children who may require a special school place.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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79. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what action will be taken regarding the oversubscribing of a school (details supplied) in Letterkenny despite a new building recently being constructed; if any additional places can be provided to the school given the significant demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8543/25]

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 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.

The NCSE has advised my department that local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) have made contact with the families of the children seeking special educational placement and will provide advice and support as required on the options available. My Department are also linking in with the school referred to by the Deputy regarding their move in to the new school building and dealing with any requirements regarding same.

Of the 3,336 special classes nationwide, 127 are in County Donegal. 12 of these were sanctioned for the 2024/25 school year, 9 at primary level and 3 at post-primary level. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide.

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. 209 new special classes have already been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2025/26 school year, three of these are in County Donegal. It is expected that the NCSE will sanction the remainder of new special classes for the 2025/26 school year in the coming weeks.

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 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.

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.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will consider a new status for special education schools to recognise the fact that whilst they are currently classed as primary schools, they cater for an age range that includes adolescents and teenagers and many offer Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8151/25]

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 current designation of special schools as primary schools is one of a range of additional challenges facing our special schools.

My department has been actively engaging with the representative managerial bodies, particularly the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE), to address these additional challenges.

A number of new measures to support special schools with a particular focus on post-primary provision have recently been introduced.

All special schools now benefit from the appointment of administrative deputy principals. These posts are making a real difference in schools in terms of assisting with leadership and management functions and supporting learning, parental and community engagement.

An additional allocation of 100 post-primary teaching posts has also been provided to special schools. I am very conscious that our special schools provide an education for students with the most complex needs, aged from 4 to 18 years of age. These posts allow schools to deliver a greater range of the national curriculum subjects and to improve student progression and transition.

My department is also working closely with the NCSE to further support special schools in relation to a range of issues relating to administration, curriculum and training. Two new specialist leads have been appointed with a specific remit for education and curriculum in special schools and in post-primary education and curriculum.

The 2015 Junior Cycle Framework incorporates a modernised curriculum across all subjects and a balanced range of assessment modes, that more appropriately addresses the needs of students. It provides students with learning opportunities that strike a better balance between learning knowledge, and developing a wide range of skills and thinking abilities.

During the three years of Junior Cycle, the majority of students will learn through a number of subjects or a combination of subjects and short courses that are broadly aligned with Level 3 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). For a small number of students with significant special educational needs Priority Learning Units (PLUs) that are broadly aligned with Level 2 or Level 1 of the NFQ will form the majority or entirety of their Junior Cycle.

As part of Senior Cycle Redevelopment, a Senior Cycle Level 1 and 2 Programme Statement, curriculum areas and modules have been published. These provide, for the first time, a Senior Cycle programme designed for students with specific special educational needs.

These developments are critical to ensuring that my department can deliver an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.