Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if, in light of the critical shortage of speech and language therapists, SLTs, across Ireland, her Department will engage with CORU and other relevant bodies to fast-track the recognition of qualified professionals from abroad; and if she will address the current two-year delay for foreign-trained SLTs to receive approval to work in Ireland, which is leaving children without vital supports. [31284/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.

My Department alongside the Department of Health, Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and the HSE are working together to ensure an increased supply of clinicians in key clinical disciplines including speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists as a matter of priority.

CORU’s provides a vital role in the protection of the public by promoting high standards of professional conduct, education, training and competence through statutory registration of health and social care professionals, including SLT’s. CORU has reported the implementation a new Registrant Management System which allows greater visibility of the applicant journey and removes duplicate steps across the processes.

CORU has also engaged with the HSE in collaborative webinars to provide guidance and support to anyone considering working as a Health and Social Care Professional in the Irish Public Health Service.

CORU have reported a 33% reduction in timelines for recognition of international qualifications in 2024, with a plan to build on this in 2025.

As I understand CORU is committed to the continued quality improvement of their process and developing a robust customer service resource in 2025.

Colm Burke (Cork North-Central, Fine Gael)
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171. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm the number of additional special school places delivered for Cork for the 2025-26 school year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31234/25]

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.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, 399 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 53 are in County Cork, 35 at primary and 18 at post primary level. This will add to the 563 special classes currently in operation in the county. The vast majority of these classes are autism classes with a capacity for up to six students each.

There are also 16 special schools in Cork with approximately 1,060 students enrolled. One of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in the North City area of Cork City also. This school will initially enrol 24 students. The permanent location for the new special school will be in Carrignavar using the vacant former primary school building. The admissions process for this new special school is expected to open this week.

My Department and the NCSE have also engaged intensely with Cork ETB who are providing an additional 42 new special school places in East Cork Community Special School (24) and Rochestown Community Special School (18). These new places have been offered over recent weeks.

In addition some small number of additional places are being provided across a number of other special schools.

Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.

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