Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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441. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a response will issue to a school (details supplied) that have been denied a SNA without any detail on the reason the decision was reached. [32524/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs. The NCSE has advised my department that all schools have been informed of their SNA allocations for the 2025/26 school year.

The NCSE is responsible for the allocation of SNAs to schools, my department does not have a role in the allocation process. I have forwarded the details of the school to them for their attention and direct reply.

Deputies are also welcome to raise such matters with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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442. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason her Department agreed to provide an autism class for a school in 2023 (details supplied) and then refused funding this April; and when the full amount of funding needed will be provided. [32543/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The NCSE have advised my Department that they do not intend to sanction a new special class at the school referred to by the Deputy at this time as there is sufficient provision available in other new special classes opening. If the NCSE were to consider this school for a new special class, my Department can then consider the accommodation needs of the school.

The department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. The need for special educational provision is identified with consideration to demographical and statistical data and in regard to an areas existing school provision and future capability. In addition, part of the process looks at how far students are travelling to access an education appropriate to their needs. This is an important factor which has been incorporated into the decision-making process. Consideration is also given to the information the NCSE hold at local level on the number of children seeking a special school place in a region.

The NCSE will, in so far as possible, sanction classes where existing accommodation exists to facilitate that class. Where there is known demand, however, and no available accommodation the NCSE may sanction a class and my department will liaise with the school to provide extra accommodation to support the establishment of that class. Where classes will not open in time for student enrolment, contingency arrangements are often made to facilitate the class elsewhere until such time the new accommodation is in situ. This allows for major reconfiguration works to be fully considered and the viability of such projects examined. The vast majority of such works are progressed however, in a small number of cases, while awaiting works and due to the passage of time it may no longer be viable for the sanction of the class to remain due to a shift in known demand or another local school receiving sanction.

The main focus this year by the NCSE has been on medium and larger primary schools with available accommodation and no existing special class to open a new special class for the 2025/26 school year.?This will ensure 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.

I want to assure?you also that my department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.