Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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753. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how many schools in Dublin mid-west expressed interest in opening a special class in a mainstream school for the years 2024-2025 and 2025-2026; how many of these were refused; the reasons for refusal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12561/25]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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754. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how many schools in Dublin mid-west were approached by the NCSE to open a special class in a mainstream school for the school year 2024-2025; how many refusals were received; the reasons for refusal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12562/25]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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755. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how many schools in Dublin mid-west have been approached by the NCSE to open a special class in a mainstream school for the coming school year 2025-2026. [12563/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 753 to 755, inclusive, together.

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 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.

My department and the NCSE engage on a weekly basis in relation to the forward planning of special class and special school provision to meet the present, and future need, of children with special educational needs.

It is expected that a similar number of special class and special school places may need to be provided over each of the next few years, that was provided in recent years. As more and more special classes open in primary schools and as the overall level of enrolments at primary level reduce, it is expected that over time the normal annual progression of students from primary special classes to post-primary will provide a significant number of places each year for younger children seeking a special class placement. At post-primary level, my department has already written to all schools asking them to prepare to provide on average four special classes each.

The NCSE, in line with their statutory function, approach schools in relation to opening new special classes directly and the level of information and detail requested is not held by my Department. I will share your request with the NCSE for a direct reply.

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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756. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools, primary and post-primary, in the Dublin south west area that expressed an interest in opening a specialist class in the past 2024-2025 academic year; the number of those applications that were refused; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12594/25]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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757. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools, primary and post-primary, in the Dublin south west area that were approached by the National Council for Special Education to open a specialist class; the number of schools that declined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12595/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 756 and 757 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 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.

It is expected that a similar number of special class and special school places may need to be provided over each of the next few years, that was provided in recent years. As more and more special classes open in primary schools and as the overall level of enrolments at primary level reduce, it is expected that over time the normal annual progression of students from primary special classes to post-primary will provide a significant number of places each year for younger children seeking a special class placement. At post-primary level, my department has already written to all schools asking them to prepare to provide on average four special classes each.

The NCSE, in line with their statutory function, approach schools in relation to opening new special classes directly and the level of information and detail requested is not held by my Department. I will share your request with the NCSE for a direct reply.

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.