Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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382. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on an announced sanctioned special class for a school (details supplied); to provide details on when the admissions process will commence; when the class will be ready; whether this class has actually been sanctioned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37124/25]

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 full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.

My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places.

In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE have advised that a new special class has been sanctioned in the school. That the school is currently in the process of organising repurposing works and are also offering places to children at this point in time. This is the 4th special class to be established in the school and the NCSE understand that the places will be offered on a phased basis - 3 places for the 2025/2026 school year and 3 for the following school year.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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383. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in Dublin 15 awaiting a place in a special school or special class for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37125/25]

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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384. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the shortfall of places for children in Dublin 15 for a special school or special class for September 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37126/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together.

This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.

Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places are being created in 2025 and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places which will become available due to children and young people moving on from primary schools and post primary schools, will mean that there is close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year. The NCSE has engaged in a process with parents and schools to identify children requiring a place for the 2025/26 school year and the 3,900 places available should meet the need that exists.

Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, 399 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. As Minister I also directed a school in Celbridge to open 2 new special classes under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998.

Of these new special classes 98 are in County Dublin, 79 at primary and 19 at post primary level. This will add to the 602 special classes currently in operation in the county. 16 of these new special classes are being provided in schools in the D15 school planning areas. This is the single largest annual increase in special class provision in both D15 and Dublin more broadly.

There are also 40 special schools in Dublin with approximately 2,600 students enrolled. Two of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in Lucan and Belmayne also. Offers of places for these new special schools are being made at present.

Minister McEntee and I continue to meet the NCSE and senior Department officials each week to track the progress being made in relation to children and young people securing specialist placements for the coming school year.

The NCSE continues to work very closely with parents and some schools in Dublin to ensure that specialist places are confirmed for children and young people as soon as possible. The situation is progressing day to day and week to week. Minister McEntee has committed to providing an update to Cabinet on this matter later this month and an update will be provided to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Youth thereafter as well.

In relation to some of the challenges that arise in terms of matching children and young people to available places, the NCSE advise that there continues to be some children being offered special education places that are unknown to them. Some families who NCSE may have expected to accept an offer of a placement may decide not to accept a placement. Some children and young people may have a dual recommendation for a special class or special school place. Parents may opt for a special class if it is closer to them, even if they have a recommendation for special school which is why the individual casework by NCSE with parents is essential and this level of detail is known only at local level by the NCSE.

In order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department recently published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of new measures introduced to support forward planning going forward and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child. An earlier date of 1 October has been set in which parents must do so. This notification will provide the NCSE with valuable insights as to which children will continue to require a special class as they progress to post primary level and details on students who require a place for the first time. The earlier date will also allow for earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year, and it is the aim of the NCSE to sanction the majority of new special classes by 31 December 2025.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.