Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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573. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools adding modular accommodation to their existing premises to open new special classes in the (2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years), by county, in tabular form. [29710/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that my department is working with a number of school authorities in relation to the provision of modular accommodation for the upcoming 2025/26 school year. These projects are being worked through currently and the delivery of accommodation for schools is dependent on a number of factors such as the suitability of the site in question, possible planning permission implications, projects already in the pipeline and the provision of modular accommodation to meet the stated demand. It is not possible to quantify at this point the exact number that will be in place for the 2025/26 school year. However, I can assure the Deputy that my officials are working closely with the relevant patrons to deliver the required accommodation.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. Over the last two years, my department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of each new school year. My department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and also the more strategic and longer-term requirements.

It is my department’s priority to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to our schools to cater for the needs of children with special educational needs.

The Deputy may be aware that together with my colleague, Minster Moynihan, I recently announced new measures to support forward planning for special education provision for the 2026/2027 school year and beyond.

New measures were set out in a circular issued to all schools at the end of May 2025 following intensive stakeholder engagement. They include:

• Indicative timelines for identifying and establishing new special classes and special school provision for the 2026/2027 school year by 31 December 2025
• Strengthened forward planning, including the requirement for the NCSE to be notified by 1 October 2025 by those seeking a special class or special school placement for a child in September 2026, bringing the timeline forward by 4 months.
• Engagement by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and the Department with school patron bodies to agree on schools to be approached to open new special classes,
• Supports for schools on planning and preparing for a new special class and more.

I can assure the Deputy that the establishment of the required special classes is a priority for my department and my officials will work diligently to ensure accommodation is provided, where necessary, for the upcoming school years to meet the need.

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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574. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools her Department is aware of that are in a position to open additional special classes through adding modular accommodation, but which have not been sanctioned as of yet. [29711/25]

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

For the 2025/26 school year the NCSE focused on sanctioning special education classes schools in schools that had capacity to expand particularly medium and larger primary schools with no existing special class or just one special class and post-primary schools with no special class.?This has ensured that classes can open quickly as existing accommodation can be reconfigured in a more streamlined and efficient manner but also that new provision is established in as many schools as possible. This provides parents more options when deciding which schools to apply to and ensures that provision continues to grow in a diverse number of schools across regions.?This should also help in reducing the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place.

However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.

Over 80% of all new special classes for the 2025/2026 school year are being provided in available school accommodation which is being repurposed as special classes. This should continue to be the trend, particularly at primary level where overall enrolment numbers continue to fall and school accommodation may be available.

This practice will continue for the 2026/27 school year. My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.