Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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608. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the urgent measures being taken to ensure that children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are not left without a suitable school place, in particular in the case of a child (details supplied) where a child due to start school in September has been refused from 15 schools with ASD classrooms; the steps she is taking to address the shortage of ASD classroom placements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11168/25]

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.

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 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. Two of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in Lucan and Belmayne also. These schools will open for enrolment shortly.

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.

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 SENO's directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.

The NCSE have 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. 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.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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609. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of ASD classes to be built in the new temporary school building for a school (details supplied); if three ASD classes will be considered given that the permanent location will have four; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11169/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The modular accommodation project for the school referred to by the Deputy will deliver 2 classrooms for children with special educational needs, for the 2025/26 school year on a temporary school site.

It is envisaged that further mainstream classroom modular accommodation will need to be provided on the temporary school site pending delivery of the permanent school building project.

The permanent school building project when complete will provide a new 16 classroom primary school building and accommodation, including 4 classrooms, for children with special educational needs on the permanent site for the school. The planning application for the permanent project was submitted to the local authority in December 2023 and the project is currently the subject of third party appeals to An Bord Pleanála.

My department will continue to liaise with the school and patron body in relation to its interim accommodation requirements pending delivery of the permanent school.

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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610. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will examine a case (details supplied) where a child who requires a place in a reading school will not have one due to the lack of available places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11175/25]

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.

At present, there are fourteen reading classes and four special schools to support students with severe dyslexia and I want to acknowledge the excellent work they do. It is important to note they were established at a time when there were much fewer additional supports in schools.

In working to develop a more inclusive education system, we want to support students to attend their local mainstream schools. This means that children can be educated with their peers and are not required to travel long distances to attend special schools or classes.

15,000 special education teachers have been provided to enable schools to achieve this. In practical terms this means schools get a substantial additional teaching allocation to support children with special education needs who are in mainstream classes.

The additional resources are intended to support students with the greatest level of need, including those with dyslexia or severe dyslexia.

Of course, I recognise the importance of building the capacity of teachers in mainstream schools to meet the needs of all students. To support this, 338 places are funded each year to teachers to attend post-graduate special education needs programmes. The NCSE offers dedicated professional learning opportunities for teachers supporting students with additional needs. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) also provides professional learning opportunities that are available to all primary and post primary school teachers on supporting children and young people with literacy difficulties, including dyslexia.

Funding is also made available to schools for the purchase of specialised equipment to assist children. Schools can apply to the NCSE, through their local special educational needs organiser (SENO) for such support.

The need for any additional provision or resources for schools to support students with dyslexia is kept under constant review by the NCSE.

In relation to the student in question the NCSE have confirmed they are aware of the child’s needs and that the SENO has provided support and advice to the parents.

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.