Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if additional space will be provided at a Louth primary school (details supplied) to accommodate an extra classroom and additional ASD places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16890/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department is in receipt of an application for capital funding under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme, from the school in question.

The purpose of the ASA scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream and special education classroom accommodation is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year and where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area. A wider assessment of special class provision across this area is currently underway, taking into account capacity at other schools, and with a focus on ensuring that medium- to large-sized primary schools with no, or few, special classes currently are prioritised for additional special class provision. The school’s ASA application will be assessed in the context of this wider planning for special classes.

I can assure the Deputy that enabling children with special educational needs to receive a befitting education 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 NCSE actively encourage expressions of interest from schools to open special classes, and I appreciate and commend the efforts taken by boards of management in expressing their interest. However, it is not always possible to open a special class in every school that expresses an interest.

When assessing the needs in the local area, the NCSE identify schools in the neighbouring vicinity with available special class vacancies or capacity and assess their capability with consideration to demographical and statistical data.

The NCSE acknowledge that circumstances may change, and these schools will remain as potential options for future classes. Local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of 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 17 are in County Louth, 13 at primary and 4 at post primary level.

This will add to the 98 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 4 special schools in Louth with approximately 420 students enrolled.

In County Louth and indeed nationwide, 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 continues to review the SEN provision requirements in County Louth and the wider area in relation to the delivery of special school places.