Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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375. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected demand for school places in mainstream primary schools for pupils with special educational needs for the school year commencing September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31788/25]

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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376. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected demand for school places in mainstream secondary schools for pupils with special educational needs for the school year commencing September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31789/25]

Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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377. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected demand for school places in special schools for pupils with special educational needs for the school year commencing September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31790/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 375, 376 and 377 together.

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

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 class and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that children will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.

My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. Building on successive budgets, Budget 2025 secured funding for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, and an additional 300 special school places for the 2025/26 school year. This will deliver 2,700 new places for children.

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.

Through the creation of 2,700 new special class and special school places and the approximate 1,200 places available through the normal movement of students from primary to post-primary and finishing post-primary, the NCSE is satisfied that there is sufficient provision to meet the level of need known to them.

My department and the NCSE engage on a weekly basis in relation to the forward planning of special class and special school provision to meet the present, and future need, of children with special educational needs and are are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for these children.