Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (Wicklow-Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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710. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will open a special education school in the premises where a school (details supplied) is vacating in Gorey, County Wexford; the funds available to support special education schools for 2025; the number of special education places for the catchment area of Gorey, County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12058/25]

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.

Almost 1,700 classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE in the last five years, eleven new special schools have been established and many more expanded. For this school year alone over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to over 3,300. Five new special schools are also being established and capacity is being expanded in other special schools.

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 10 are in County Wexford, 8 at primary and 2 at post primary level.

This will add to the 119 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 3 special schools in Wexford with approximately 307 students enrolled. One of these special schools just opened in September 2024 in Gorey and is expanding its intake for the coming 2025/2026 school year.

In County Wexford 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.

In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, the property in question is not in the ownership of the Minister for Education. Nonetheless, the Department will consider whether there are any educational requirements for the use of the property and engage with the patron if appropriate.

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.