Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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664. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to the option of opening a second ASD classroom in school (details supplied) for the coming academic year, 2025-2026, given the school has a classroom fitted and ready to go and has seven children on its current waiting lists; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11667/25]

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.

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, 50 are in Cork, 32 at primary and 18 at post primary level. This will add to the 563 special classes currently in operation in the county.

There are also 16 special schools in county Cork with approximately 1,000 students enrolled. One of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in the North of Cork city also.

The NCSE have confirmed that a 2nd special class has now been sanctioned in the school referred to by the Deputy for the coming school year.

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.