Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

372. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills whether all mild general learning disability schools being re-designated as complex needs schools; if so, the reason for this; which stakeholders were involved in the re-designation process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34368/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

445. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 388 of 17 June 2025, the position regarding any engagement she has had since January 2025 with school principals of special schools or their representative bodies regarding proposed changes to the allocation of special schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34322/25]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context

448. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reasons for the redesignation of all mild general learning disability schools as complex needs schools; if she will pause redesignations pending consultation and a review involving parents and teachers; if she will ensure that those pupils in existing mild general learning disabilities schools will have the specialist supports that they need; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34363/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 372, 445 and 448 together.

The government is committed to the provision of additional special school places for children with more complex educational needs. Over 300 new special school places are being provided for the coming 2025/26 school year. Five new special schools are being established in addition to the eleven new special schools opened over the last few years. Special school capacity is also being expanded across a number of special schools.

As recently announced, my department will begin examining the designation of special schools in the 2025/26 school year. It’s important to note that it is not the intention to exclude children who require a special school place from accessing certain special school settings, but rather allow children with complex educational needs apply to their local special school by broadening the designation of more schools.

Currently, there are instances whereby children with complex needs cannot apply for admission to their local special school simply because they don’t meet the narrow designation of that special school. In that regard, along with providing additional special school capacity, my department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) consider it necessary to look at the profile of our existing special schools.

This is not a new departure. The NCSE report that over half of mild general learning disability (MGLD) special schools have already changed their policies in order to allow children with more complex needs in their communities who require a special school setting enrol in their local special school. I wish to thank schools who have worked with us to broaden their designation. My department will now engage with and support the remaining schools to embrace this endeavour so that more special schools can better support children with complex needs in their local community.

There are approximately 30 of our 129 special schools that were originally designated as schools for children with a MGLD. The establishment of these special schools predated the significant expansion in the range of supports offered in mainstream schools through additional special education teaching and special needs assistant resources and through the rapid expansion in special class provision.

It is noted that many of the children enrolling in MGLD special school do so around the transition point from primary to post-primary. The new senior cycle level 1 and level 2 programmes offers a new curriculum pathway for students with special educational needs at post-primary level now also.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

373. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the National Council for Special Education accept clinical diagnosing of autism in assessment reports completed by counselling psychologists. [34542/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My department has recently issued a new circular letter to schools in relation to the approach and measures being undertaken to support the forward planning of special classes and special school places for the 2026/2027 school year.

The circular letter and NCSE guidelines clearly set out the eligibility criteria for access to a special class or special school. For example the eligibility criteria for admission to an autism special class for the 2026/27 school year is:

Children and young people are eligible for enrolment in a special class for autism when the following is provided in support of such an application:

Professional report(s) outlining:

• Diagnosis of autism (e.g. Autism: DSM IV/V or ICD 10/11 (psychologist, psychiatrist, multi-disciplinary report)
  
  AND
• A demonstration of the understanding of complexity of the child’s overall level of need/s evidenced in the professional reports
  
  AND
• Given the severity or complexity of the child’s support needs, a clear professional recommendation as to what educational placement type would be most appropriate to best meet the child’s needs, along with the rationale for same
  
  AND
• A letter from the NCSE confirming that the child is known to them and that the child has the required diagnosis and recommendation for a special class for autism.

Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

374. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the date on which she was informed of the shortfall in additional SNAs promised for September 2025 as in the case of a school (details supplied); the reason for the delays in responses from the NCSE to schools. [33517/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The 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 special needs assistant (SNA) allocations for the 2025/26 school year. As the NCSE is responsible for the allocation of SNAs to schools. I have forwarded the school's details 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.

For 2025, the highest ever annual budgetary provision for 1,600 additional SNA posts was provided. All of these posts will be allocated to schools for the start of the coming school year. This will bring the overall number of SNAs to over 23,000 which is a 100% increase over 10 years.