Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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425. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to use legislative powers to compel every school in an area (details supplied) to open special classes to ensure there are enough school places for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15685/25]

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. The NCSE, in line with their statutory function, approach schools in relation to opening new special classes directly.

As Minister I have powers under Section 37A of the Education Act to direct a school to provide additional places, but this power is only used as a last resort and where all reasonable efforts have failed. A collaborative approach between my department, the NCSE and schools is always the preferred option.

My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. Building on successive budgets, Budget 2025 secured funding for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, and an additional 300 special school places for the 2025/26 school year. This will deliver 2,700 new places for children.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 352 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 51 are in Cork, 33 at primary level and 18 at post-primary level.

This will add to the 563 special classes already sanctioned in Cork, 395 at primary level and 168 at post-primary level.

In County Cork and indeed nationwide, the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm any remaining 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.

If necessary, I am satisfied that I have the necessary statutory powers under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to compel schools to make provision for children with special education needs. In addition, the NCSE also have the power to direct schools to admit individual children with special education needs.

Looking forward my department and the NCSE have begun preparatory work in relation to planning for the provision of further new special class and special school places for the 2026/27 school year and beyond.

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