Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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1061. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the strategy led by her Department to ensure that children resident in IPAS centres are provided with school places and integrated into their new school communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21174/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Meeting the educational needs of children and young people arriving from Ukraine and other countries is a priority for the Government, and my Department is determined to support the efforts of school communities across the country who have shown huge commitment and generosity.

In Ireland, all migrant children, including children of international protection applicants, children of migrant workers and unaccompanied minors, can access primary and post-primary education in a manner similar to Irish nationals, until they have reached 18 years of age. In September 2023, my Department published separate guidance documents for primary and post-primary schools on educational provision for children and young people from Ukraine, international protection applicants and children and young people with recognised status.

Regional Education and Language Teams (REALTs) are hosted by the regional Education and Training Boards (ETBs) around Ireland. Team members include regionally based education support personnel including EWOs. The primary role of the REALT is to assist new arrivals to find a school places and to support schools in meeting the needs of children as they arise. REALT co-ordinators are available to assist families where difficulties may arise.

As of the 31 March 2025, 17,460 pupils from Ukraine and 6,144 children residing in IP and emergency centres are formally enrolled in schools across the country.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1063. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether her Department has, or has access to, data on the number of children with an autism diagnosis who are enrolled in mainstream classes in primary schools; whether her Department has, or has access to, the number of children awaiting an assessment for autism who are enrolled in mainstream classes in primary schools; if she will provide the relevant figures; and in the absence of such, if she will provide relevant proxy data her Department uses for planning purposes. [21182/25]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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1064. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school children with autism in special schools, special classes and mainstream classes respectively in each of the past five academic years and projected for the coming five years, in tabular form. [21184/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1063 and 1064 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.

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided. Children in mainstream classes are supported by 15,000 special educational teachers and 12,500 special needs assistants (SNAs). It is important to remember that a diagnosis is not required in order to access these supports.

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 advise that just under 3,300 verified notifications of children seeking a specialist placement for the coming school year were received by them by mid-February.

Of the 3,335 special classes nationwide in this school year 2024/2025, 2,337 are in primary schools and of these 2,144 are autism classes. These classes have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.

If the current accelerated rate of provision is continued, it is estimated that up to 5% of the total school going population could be enrolled in special classes in mainstream schools or special schools over the next number of years.

The table below provides a breakdown of the number of autism classes sanctioned at primary level in the past five years.

My department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.

Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)
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1065. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills where a student (details supplied) can access a special unit or a special school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21231/25]

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 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.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1066. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of capital funding her Department provided to a school (details supplied) in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21260/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school referred to by the Deputy received the following capital funding in the year's 2023,2024 and 2025 -

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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1067. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of capital funding her Department provided to a school (details supplied) in the years of 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21261/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school referred to by the Deputy received the following capital funding in the year's 2023,2024 and 2025 -