Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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555. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied); the actions she will take to support this family in securing a suitable school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10730/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential 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 that the local special educational needs organiser is working closely with the student’s family regarding options for school placements and other special education supports for the coming academic year.

Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special class and 300 additional special school places. On top of this, there will be over 1,000 places available through the normal annual movement of students progressing from primary to post-primary and students graduating from post-primary or special schools. There also remains special class vacancies in some areas of the country.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 309 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 53 are in Dublin, 37 at primary and 16 at post primary level.

This will add to the 602 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 40 special schools in Dublin with approximately 2,600 students enrolled.

In Dublin and indeed nationwide, the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm further classes. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of the remaining special classes they will inform parents.

Where new special classes have been sanctioned, I would urge schools to progress the admission of students as soon as possible to ensure that the NCSE can continue to evaluate demand in local areas, sanction classes as required and assist parents in securing a school place.

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. Last year 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.

The NCSE continue to assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. 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.

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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556. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application (details supplied) to the NCSE to open an ASD unit in September 2025; if, having regard to demand in the local area and no requirement for additional space, she will expedite the approval of this application in order that the class can be open for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10734/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special class and 300 additional special school places. On top of this, there will be over 1,000 places available through the normal annual movement of students progressing from primary to post-primary and students graduating from post-primary or special schools. There also remains special class vacancies in some areas of the country.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 309 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 15 are in County Tipperary, 7 at primary and 8 at post primary level.

This will add to the 138 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 3 special schools in Tipperary with approximately 409 students enrolled.

In County Tipperary and indeed nationwide, the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm further classes. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of the remaining special classes they will inform parents.

Where new special classes have been sanctioned, I would urge schools to progress the admission of students as soon as possible to ensure that the NCSE can continue to evaluate demand in local areas, sanction classes as required and assist parents in securing a school place.

My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places.

In relation to the school referred to the special educational needs organiser (SENO) has been in contact with the school. Every school who expresses an interest in opening a new special class is to be commended. However, it may not be possible to open a new special class in every school who expresses an interest in opening one. The NCSE will continue to keep the need for a special class in the area under review going forward.

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

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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557. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application (details supplied) to open an additional special class in September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10735/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential 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.

Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special class and 300 additional special school places. On top of this, there will be over 1,000 places available through the normal annual movement of students progressing from primary to post-primary and students graduating from post-primary or special schools. There also remains special class vacancies in some areas of the country.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 309 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 15 are in Tipperary, 7 at primary and 8 at post primary level.

This will add to the 138 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 3 special schools in Tipperary with approximately 409 students enrolled.

In Tipperary and indeed nationwide, the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm further classes. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of the remaining special classes they will inform parents.

My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places.

The NCSE have confirmed that 1 new special class has been sanctioned for the coming school year in the school referred to by the Deputy. The NCSE will continue to review the need for any further provision of special classes in the local area on an ongoing basis.

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

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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558. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an application (details supplied) to open an additional special class in September 2025 which is urgently required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10736/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential 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.

Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special class and 300 additional special school places. On top of this, there will be over 1,000 places available through the normal annual movement of students progressing from primary to post-primary and students graduating from post-primary or special schools. There also remains special class vacancies in some areas of the country.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 309 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 15 are in Tipperary, 7 at primary and 8 at post primary level.

This will add to the 138 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 3 special schools in Tipperary with approximately 409 students enrolled.

In Tipperary and indeed nationwide, the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm further classes. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of the remaining special classes they will inform parents.

My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. In relation to the school referred to the NCSE have confirmed that a 2nd special class has been sanctioned to open for the coming school year. I would urge the school to progress the establishment of the new special class and the processing of admissions as soon as possible. The NCSE are available to support the school establish their second special class in terms of allocating staffing and providing guidance and training.