Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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447. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the situation whereby under circular 0080/2024, a new start up grant of €30,000 was approved to support the repurchasing of the existing accommodation to facilitate the opening of new special classes in schools, whereas a grant immediately prior to this was €15,700; and in view of the fact that many schools have carried out the work as many of the 2024-25 school year have been seriously underfunded for the work on that year, putting an unnecessary burden on the local school community, if the Minister will re-examine this to bring the figure that was approved for 2024-25 more in line with the figure for 2025-26 as an urgent interim measure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25432/25]

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.

In October 2024, to support this forward planning work, my department issued a circular letter (0080/2024) to all schools setting out a number of new measures to support the work of the NCSE and schools in providing new special classes. These measures include more streamlined funding for the refurbishment of available accommodation to provide a special classroom for the 2025/2026 school year.

Schools approved funding for the 2024/25 school year have completed works under the scheme available when works were initiated. It is not possible to revisit the funding arrangements that applied in a previous year.

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.