Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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298. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in view of the commitment in Budget 2025 to provide for up to 400 additional new special classes for the 2025-2026 school year, if there is additional demand beyond 400 additional classes; if further financial provision will be made to provide additional classes if such are needed to ensure that every student with additional needs at primary and post primary level can be assured of a suitable school place for the coming school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12975/25]

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. 

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.

As you are aware, this year, an emphasis has been placed on the importance of parents contacting the NCSE as soon as possible when seeking a special educational placement. This requirement not only ensures that the NCSE can provide advice and support as required but also that they have the local knowledge to plan to ensure that adequate special education provision remains available at a local level. 

The NCSE is confident that the new provision provided for in Budget 2025 when added to the existing provision will meet the known demand for the 2025/26 school year. Parents seeking a special educational placement should continue to contact the NCSE who will continue to provide advice and support as required. 

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 208 are at primary level and 101 are at post-primary level. This will add to the over 3,330 special classes currently in operation in the country.

Nationwide, the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm the location of the remaining classes. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of these 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 SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.

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

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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299. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a student entering a special class or an ASD unit in first year at second level will be guaranteed that placement for the duration of their education at second level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12976/25]

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.

Placements in special education settings should be reviewed by schools, in consultation with parents, on an ongoing basis. My department is completing work on revised guidelines for schools on the review of special education placements.

Where a child or young person is moving from one special education setting to another, or from a special education setting to a mainstream setting and vice versa the NCSE at a local level is available to support this transition. Regard would need to be given to the relevant admission policies, admission process and waiting lists for the schools involved.

The enrolment of a student in a special class should be kept under continual review by the school, this is in recognition that a student’s learning needs may change over time. At a minimum, a review should take place once a year and include a careful examination of the student’s progress in achieving their learning targets. This ensures a student is continually being supported to meet their full potential in a setting that best meets their learning needs. At any stage where a student requires placement in a special educational setting the NCSE is available to support and advise on this transition.

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