Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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831. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for additional resources for a school (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19056/25]

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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832. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the number of special needs assistants, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, and psychology supports in a school (details supplied). [19057/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 831 and 832 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.

The NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I have forwarded this issue to them for their attention and direct reply.

Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.

By the end of the year there will be over 20,800 special educational teachers and 23,400 special needs assistants (SNAs) in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This will mean we will have over 44,000 teachers and SNAs working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

Allocations of special education teaching (SET) posts for the next school year have recently been provided to schools and SNA allocations will be confirmed by the NCSE to schools in the coming weeks. The NCSE also publish SET and SNA allocations on their .

While the provision of clinical therapy supports to children is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive (HSE), it is this government’s ambition, and as outlined in the Programme for Government, to extend therapy supports within the education system, over time, initially in special schools. This is not to replace HSE services but rather to compliment existing supports recognising that special schools support children with complex needs.

My department is working collaboratively with relevant departments to develop and strengthen more coherent structures to enable children and young people to access therapeutic supports. Initial work in regard to this important service has already commenced, through enhanced in-school therapy supports pilot, in some special schools as announced in August 2024 for 16 special schools in Cork, Dublin and Galway.

Furthermore, My department and I are conscious of the benefits of therapy services for children and in this regard has developed, in conjunction with the NCSE, the Educational Therapy Support Service (ETSS). The ETSS will comprise, initially, of 39 therapists who will work in schools to build the capacity of teachers and other school staff.

Speech and language and occupational therapists will work collaboratively with school communities, NCSE colleagues and where appropriate the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and HSE professionals promoting the participation and inclusion of all students particularly those with special education needs. Educational support will be provided across all levels of a multi-tiered system of support to students with the greatest level of need.

I am aware that my government colleagues, the Ministers for Health, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science as well the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality are all working to ensure increased supply of key clinical specialists including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists as a matter of priority. I am fully supportive of this work as we are all aware of the growing needs of children to access a full range of interventions to allow them to achieve their potential.

It is my ambition that the work of my department and that of my government colleagues will develop and enhance therapeutic supports in the education system. However, at this time the provision of clinical therapy supports from Children Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) and any changes to therapy allocations is the responsibility of the HSE local CDNT management .

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.