Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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598. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) will be sanctioned to open a fifth autism classroom, with consideration to the high volume of applications that they receive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11105/25]

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.

The NCSE actively encourage expressions of interest from schools to open special classes, and I appreciate and commend the efforts taken by boards of management in expressing their interest. However, it is not always possible to open a special class in every school that expresses an interest.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE advise that 309 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these, 53 are in County Dublin, 37 at primary and 16 at post primary level. This will add to the 602 special classes currently in operation in the county.

In County Dublin and indeed nationwide the NCSE continue to examine which schools have capacity to expand and are targeting medium and larger primary schools with available accommodation and no existing special class to open a new special class for the 2025/26 school year. This will ensure that classes can open quickly as existing accommodation can be reconfigured in a more streamlined and efficient manner.

However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places. The NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm further classes for the 2025/26 school year. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of these 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 and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.