Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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735. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a schedule of the number and name of the schools in Kildare that have expressed an interest in opening a specialist class in the past two years and to date in 2025; the number of schools that were refused, granted and are appealing decisions; and the rationale for the refusing applications. [12384/25]

Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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736. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a schedule of the number and name of the schools in Kildare that were approached by the National Council for Special Education to open a specialist class; the percentage of those schools declined; and the rationale for refusing applications. [12385/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 735 and 736 together.

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.

By the end of the year there will be over 20,800 special educational teachers and 23,400 SNAs in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This will mean we will have over 44,200 teachers and SNAs working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

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 14 are in Kildare, 11 at primary and 3 at post primary level.

This will add to the 131 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 6 special schools in Kildare with approximately 359 students enrolled.

In Kildare 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.

The NCSE, in line with their statutory function engage directly with schools in relation to the sanctioning of new special classes and therefore the information requested in relation to special classes is not available to my department. I will arrange to have your question referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.