James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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427. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of an ASD class in a supplementary request under ASA in a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32255/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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My department's Planning and Building Unit advise that the school has a building project in train which will add three mainstream classrooms and two special education tuition rooms. The school sought the addition of a special education classroom however at this time there is not sufficient demand in the local area for the National Council For Special Education to sanction an extra special class in the area.

The NCSE actively encourage expressions of interest from schools to open special classes, and I appreciate and commend the efforts taken by boards of management in expressing their interest. However, it is not always possible to open a special class in every school that expresses an interest.

When assessing the needs in the local area, the NCSE identify schools in the neighbouring vicinity with available special class vacancies or capacity and assess their capability with consideration to demographical and statistical data.

The NCSE acknowledge that circumstances may change, and these schools will remain as potential options for future classes. Local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs.

Schools not sanctioned this year, such as the school referred to by the Deputy will remain as a potential option for future classes. Local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs.

The NCSE has sanctioned 399 of the 400 new special classes for the 2025/26 school year. The NCSE is confident that this new provision when added to the existing available provision will meet the known demand for the 2025/26 school year. I implore any parent who has not contacted the NCSE and is seeking a special educational placement to contact the NCSE as soon as possible.

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 have begun preparatory work in relation to planning for the provision of further new special class and special school places for the 2026/27 school year and are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.