Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the means by which she will ensure that schools have adequate funding for special education needs; that resources are distributed equitably; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14911/25]

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.

In 2025 over €2.9 billion will be spent supporting children with special educational needs. This figure builds on previous years and represents over a quarter of the education budget. It will provide for, amongst other things, 400 new special classes and 300 new special school places. It will also increase our special educational posts by 768 special education teachers, and 1,600 special needs assistant (SNA) posts nationwide.

Special Education Teaching posts are allocated to teachers based on a number of criteria, including the level of enrolments in the school. The NCSE allocate SNA posts to schools based on the overall needs of the school. A school has autonomy then to decide how best to deploy special education teachers and SNAs at local level. There are streamlined appeal processes in place where schools wish to seek a review of their special education teaching or SNA allocations.

Budget 2025 also secured additional investment for the Summer Programme. Funding for a dedicated special education innovation fund has also been ringfenced in recognition of the need to continually evolve and examine best practice to support children with special educational needs. In addition, additional funding for enhanced training for teachers and SNAs and grant funding to external bodies to assist with supports for children with special educational needs has been provided.

Schools with classes for students with special educational needs receive enhanced capitation grants. These rates vary and depend on the particular level of need and are there to assist with the extra costs associated with running classrooms with a small number of students.

In addition, when a school establishes a special class and the school does not have accommodation for that class the school can apply for capital funding under the department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme.

The required accommodation can be provided by means of reconfiguration of existing accommodation, the provision of modular accommodation, or a traditional construction building project. Schools are provided with appropriate classrooms and with ancillary facilities appropriate to the needs of the school and the available space. These facilities typically include a quiet space associated with each classroom, a multi-activity room, a central activity space, and external soft play area.

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.