Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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591. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children seeking special school places and special class places, by county, for the past five years; the projected demand for the next two years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29857/25]

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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614. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected demand for each type of special class by county for the upcoming five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29892/25]

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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617. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of school places appropriate for children with a severe or profound general learning disability that exist at present in each county. [29895/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 591, 614 and 617 together.

As you are aware 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.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised that just under 3,300 valid notifications were received by mid-February via their new parent notify service for the 2025/2026 school year. Some of these notifications were children already known to the NCSE however, many others were new. Also, while parents were asked to notify the NCSE by mid-February the NCSE continues to receive notifications and continues to review reports and recommendations for specialist placement as appropriate.

It is not possible to give detailed county breakdowns as there are some children with dual recommendations for both special class and special schools, and we know that in some areas close to county boundaries children will in fact take up a place in a school outside their own county.

In order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department recently published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of new measures introduced to support forward planning going forward and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child. An earlier date of 1 October has been set in which parents must do so. This notification will provide the NCSE with valuable insights as to which children will continue to require a special class as they progress to post primary level and details on students who require a place for the first time. The earlier date will also allow for earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year, and it is the aim of the NCSE to sanction the majority of new special by 31 December 2025.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.