Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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694. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a child (details supplied) who has autism and is yet to receive a school placement; if she will instruct her Department to ensure this child has a place by September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11897/25]

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 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.

Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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695. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will intervene in the case of an additional special classroom for a primary school in County Clare (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11903/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was approved funding under my Department's Additional School Accommodation scheme for the provision of two mainstream classrooms for displaced classrooms and reconfiguration to provide a second SEN and central activities space in October 2023. This project is devolved to the school authority for delivery.

In December 2024, the school authority submitted the Stage 1/2a Design Report containing three design options. Option A which is the schools preferred option located the Central Activity Space far away from the proposed SEN base. My Department recommended Option B which located the Central Activity Space between the existing and proposed SEN base which is a more ideal location. These comments were issued to the school in February 2025 and the school were advised to advance the project to Stage 2b (Planning) subject to the incorporation of these comments.

The Department received a letter appealing its decision on 07 March 2025. The points contained within the letter will be considered and a response will issue to the school in due course.