Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools in the Dublin Mid-West area; the number of special schools; to outline the plans for new schools in the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17310/25]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on additional special education classes that are being provided in Dublin West since 2024. [17233/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 163 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.

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. 2,700 new places are being created and these together with the over 1,200 existing places available for enrolment will mean there is close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year. This significant level of provision means that the department and NCSE have created sufficient capacity for the children whose parents and schools have identified as requiring a place.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 375 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 77 are in Dublin, 59 at primary and 18 at post primary level.

This will add to the 602 special classes already sanctioned in Dublin, 455 in primary and 147 at post-primary level. In the Dublin West region there now 58 special classes, 44 at primary and 14 at post-primary level. 12 of these classes were new for the 2024/25 school year and 11 are new classes sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. A list of these class is provided in the attached document.

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.

A list of all mainstream and special schools is available on my department's website on gov.ie. In addition, a list of schools with special classes; broken by location and class designation is available on the NCSE website.

In County Dublin and indeed nationwide, the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm remaining classes. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of the remaining special classes they will inform parents.

My department has requested the NCSE to work closely with schools and families to ensure that these children access places as quickly as possible. My department has also written to all schools opening new special classes asking them to commence their admission processes as quickly as possible.

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

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

157. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for a special class for a school (details supplied); and for a breakdown of the number of special classes for all of Wicklow versus the level of need. [17129/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. 2,700 new places are being created and these together with the over 1,200 existing places available for enrolment will mean there is close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year.

In October 2024, my department issued a circular letter to all schools setting out a range of new measures to support the forward planning of special education. Among the new measures introduced was a request for parents of children seeking a special education placement, including children already attending mainstream classes, to notify the NCSE. This was to ensure that the NCSE had a clear picture of the children who may have needed a special placement for the first time or a new placement as they transitioned into a new school. The NCSE at a local level will monitor these children's progress as they move through their education and sanction classes as demand requires. They are now examining where provision is required for the 2026/27 school year and which schools have capacity to expand. Parents are advised to contact the NCSE to inform them that they are seeking a special education placement to ensure the NCSE has up-to-date information.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 375 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 12 are in Wicklow, 7 at primary and 5 at post primary level. This will add to the 120 special classes already sanctioned in the county.

In some areas of the country, 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.

My department has requested the NCSE to work closely with schools and families to ensure that these children access places as quickly as possible. My department has also written to all schools opening new special classes asking them to commence their admission processes as quickly as possible.

The NCSE will shortly intensify planning for the 2026/2027 school year and the issue of aligning junior primary school and associated senior primary school provision will be a key focus.

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

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm the details of the new special school for Cork based in Carrignavar and, in the interim, Fermoy; when applications for the school will open; the way parents can apply for children for same; if criteria have been developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17212/25]

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on special schools and special classes in Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16752/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 175 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).

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. 2,700 new places are being created and these together with the over 1,200 existing places available for enrolment will mean there is close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year. This significant level of provision means that the department and NCSE have created sufficient capacity for the children whose parents and schools have identified as requiring a place.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 375 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 53 are in County Cork, 35 at primary and 18 at post primary level.

This will add to the 263 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 16 special schools in County Cork with approximately 1,060 students enrolled. One of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in the North of the City also. My Department and the NCSE are also working with Cork Education and Training Board to expand capacity at both Rochestown Community Special School and East Cork Community Special School.

Dedicated working groups have been established by my department to work through the details in relation to the establishment of the five new special schools, for the 2025/26 school year, including the new special school in County Cork which is under the patronage of Cork Education and Training Board (CMETB).

This new school will be located in spare accommodation at Gaelscoil De Híde, Fermoy, temporarily while accommodation is built at the former primary school building in Carrignavar.

A principal for the new special school is currently being recruited. This role is critical to the special schools advancing their enrolment policies and procedures as agreed with the school patron.

The school will provide for students with a diagnosis of autism and complex learning needs or students with complex learning needs with a professional recommendation for a special school.

I understand that the school will initially admit 24 students and the application process will begin shortly. Special schools set out the number of places available, for each enrolment intake, in their admission notice. 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 and the local ETB will continue to review and assess the accommodation options available to allow the new special school to grow and expand over the next few years.