Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special classes in County Mayo; the number of autistic children currently awaiting a school place in County Mayo, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18852/25]

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

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.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 399 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 4 are in County Mayo. This will add to the 72 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 4 special schools in Mayo with approximately 160 students enrolled.

The NCSE has advised that just under 3,300 valid notifications were received by mid-February via their new parent notify service. 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.