Joe Cooney (Clare, Fine Gael)
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455. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number and names of single teacher schools in County Clare in each of the years 2019 to 2025, in tabular form; the current teacher/pupil ratio in 2025 in these schools in County Clare; her plans to close any of them; if so, the location of the schools and number of pupils in them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34427/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Please find attached requested data. Data was collated from the final class tables for the years 2019-2023, which can be found at the link below. We expect data for 2024 to be published shortly and we will revert to the Deputy with the data for academic year 2024-2025 as well as the teacher/pupil ratio when available. For academic years 2021, 2022 and 2023 there were no schools in County Clare with only a single teacher.

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/class-size-information-at-individual-primary-school-level/

We have not received any submissions for closure for any primary schools in Co. Clare.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the decision-making authority for any school closure is the patron/trustees of the schools, subject to the approval of my Department.

Any proposed closure involves extensive consultation at local level and must be well planned and managed in a manner that accommodates the interests of students, parents, teachers and local communities.

The Patron and relevant stakeholders are also advised to consider the implications that any school closure proposal may have on factors such as staffing, school furniture/equipment and school records so that an informed decision can be made.

My Department in considering such applications must assess the implications, if any, of proposed school closures in the context of how this change may impact the viability of other schools in the area and any future implications for school place availability. My Department must also consider any associated capital implications that may be warranted as a result of such a change.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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456. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of resources provided to schools in north Kildare to accommodate children with mild general learning disabilities in mainstream schools; the number of children in those classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34443/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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It is my department’s policy, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary.

The department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools and students with special educational needs in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education.

My department has significantly increased the resources available to support children with special educational needs in mainstream provision. For the 2025/26 school year there will be 15,000 special education teachers and over 12,500 special needs assistants (SNAs) in schools supporting students in mainstream classes. The NCSE publish a breakdown of both allocations by county on their

For children with more complex needs special class and special school places are provided. My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. My department and the NCSE identify the need for special educational provision with consideration to demographical and statistical data and in regard to an areas existing school provision and future capability.

In addition, part of the forward planning process as to where new classes, schools or expansion is required 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.

Of the 3,700 special classes sanctioned nationwide, 146 are in County Kildare, 1 of these is a Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) class.

Many of the MGLD pre-date the significant increase in special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants allocated for mainstream classes.

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.