Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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416. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students that will be enrolled into the interim special school in County Monaghan in September 2025; if there is capacity at the site of that school to increase enrolment numbers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15562/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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417. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of expressions of interest seeking to secure a place for a child in the interim special school in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15563/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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418. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process that will be applied to determine which students are enrolled in the interim special school in County Monaghan in the event that there are more eligible applicants than available spaces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15564/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 416, 417 and 418 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.

As you are aware five new special schools will be established for the next school year, two in County Dublin and one each in counties Cork, Monaghan and Tipperary. This will bring to 129 the number of NCSE supported special schools in the country.

Dedicated working groups have been established by my department to work through the details in relation to the establishment of the new special schools, including the new special school in County Monaghan. The schools are presently advertising for their principal posts. This role is critical to the special schools advancing their enrolment policies and procedures as agreed with the school patron, which in the case of the Monaghan special school is the Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB).

Each special school publish their admission notice which sets out the number of places available for each enrolment intake. It is a matter for each school to set their own selection criteria in the event that there are more applicants than places available. These details are set out clearly for parents in the published admission notice and admissions policy for the new special school. My Department understands that the new special school will initially admit 18 students and the application window for admissions closed on 31 March.

Special schools generally operate on the basis of 1 teacher and at least 2 SNAs per class grouping of 6 children. Further supports can be provided if required to meet the needs of the children enrolling in the school.

My Department and the local ETB will continue to review and assess the accommodation options available to allow the new special school grow and expand over the next few years.

Parents and families looking to apply for admission to the new special school will be supported and guided by the NCSE at local level and kept updated on developments. The local ETB and NCSE have held information events with interested parents of children who may require a special school place.

I want to assure you that my department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.