Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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541. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how mild general learning disability students are being catered for in mainstream schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29418/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

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 class and special school places are provided.

This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that children will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible. Additional teaching resources and special needs assistants (SNAs) are provided to schools to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes.

In addition, of the 3,335 special classes nationwide, 50 are designated by the NCSE for students with a mild general learning disability, 36 at primary level and 14 are at post-primary level. These classes can accommodate up to 11 students each.

The establishment of these special classes for children with mild general learning disability often predate the significant expansion of special education teachers provided to schools over recent years. The significant growth in the allocation of special education teachers to mainstream schools along with SNAs is supporting more children with special educational needs to attend mainstream classes in their local school with their peers.

The introduction of new Senior cycle level 1 and level 2 curriculum programmes also help provide a curriculum pathway for learners with additional needs and build on the existing Junior Cycle level 1 and level 2 programmes.

My Department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that no matter where a child is enrolled they have access to the required supports to enable them to achieve their educational goals.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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542. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if documentation relating to an NCSE review of the SNA allocation at a school (details supplied) has been processed by the body; the current status of the review; if the school can expect to secure additional SNA resources to allow it to fully meet the needs of all mainstream students in the school who require additional support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29432/25]

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 co-ordinating 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: .