Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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628. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated current and capital cost of implementing the plan to open at least four special classes in every post-primary school in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29913/25]

Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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629. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated yearly current and capital cost of the staggered implementation over five years of the plan to open at least four special classes in every post-primary school in the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29914/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 629 together.

I propose to take PQs 628 and 629 together.

In general, each special class sanctioned at post-primary level is provided 1.5 teaching posts and two special needs assistant (SNA) posts as standard.

The estimated full-year cost of a new entrant special education teacher is €56,510 within a post-primary setting. The estimated full-year cost of a new entrant SNA is €35,030 per annum.

The estimated full-year cost of a special education teacher on average is €78,490 in a post-primary setting. This includes provision for related substitution costs and employer PRSI. The estimated full-year cost of a SNA is €44,300 per annum. This includes employer PRSI.

The accommodation solution for the provision of special classes at post-primary schools will be bespoke to the individual circumstances of each school, and will need to take account of the level of the requirement for special education provision in the relevant area. The use of existing capacity is the preferred solution, where possible, as this best supports expedited delivery, climate action obligations, and value for money.

My department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) reviewed the forward planning for special education needs and highlighted the urgent need for additional special classes. In order to respond to this need at pace, my department is progressing urgent building projects that involve the repurposing of existing space in schools for this purpose. These projects will ensure that existing school capacity is optimised and that teaching spaces are adaptable and flexible to facilitate a student-centred approach to learning. Potential repurposing options will be school and site specific, presenting different opportunities and challenges.

To support the delivery of these classes in good time for the 2025/26 school year a new streamlined approach to funding is available to repurpose accommodation for special education. A special education start up grant of €30,000 for each new classroom sanctioned and opened for the 2025/26 school year will be payable to the school directly following receipt of the NCSE notification of a sanctioned class. My department has commenced issuing the first tranche of these payments to schools. Additional funding for small scale repurposing works up to a maximum of €70,000 per class is also available to schools on an application basis. Further information on special education repurposing supports can be accessed on .

There is additionally a significant volume of accommodation for post primary special classes included as part of large scale and Additional School Accommodation building projects in the department’s pipeline. These are typically integrated with the delivery of mainstream accommodation as part of projects delivering additional capacity to meet demographic needs.

Where there is a requirement for further special class accommodation in an area, beyond what can be facilitated within existing capacity or as part of a school building project, and that accommodation is required in the near-term, special classes can be provided for in modular accommodation. The extent and nature of that modular accommodation will be informed by the size of the school, the number of special classes already at the school, the scale of the local demand, site constraints, and any additional mainstream accommodation that may also be required.

Given the complexities as outlined above, and the requirement for a bespoke response to the specific circumstances of individual schools, it is not possible to give an estimation of the cost of providing accommodation for an average of four special classes at each post primary school.