Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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984. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the planned opening date for the new special school in south Lucan on the Lucan East ETNS site; the ages of the children it will cater for; the number of children will be facilitated at optimum levels; the categories of special educational needs it will cover or not cover; when and through what medium parents can apply for places and or be referred; if there will be a specific geographic catchment area set out by its board of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20506/25]

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.

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 in 2025 and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places which will become available due to children and young people moving on from primary schools and post primary schools, will mean that there is close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year. The NCSE has engaged in a process with parents and schools to identify children requiring a place for the 2025/26 school year and the 3,900 places available should meet the need that exists.

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. Dedicated working groups have been established by my department to work through the details in relation to the establishment of the new special schools.

Lucan Community Special School school will initially enrol 30 students. It is expected that this school will enrol children aged between 4 and 18 who have a diagnosis of autism and complex learning needs or have complex learning needs and a recommendation for a special school placement.

The patron (Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB) is progressing the recruitment of a school principal. The school’s admissions process is also expected to commence shortly. The former Lucan East Educate Together National School building will be re-purposed to facilitate the opening of the new special school.

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.

Parents and families looking to apply for admission to the new special school will be supported and guided by the NCSE at a local level and kept updated on developments.

Parents seeking placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local SENOs are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.

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.