Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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46. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for additional special needs assistants submitted to her Department; and the number of these applications approved and refused, in tabular form. [38029/25]

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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47. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is concerned that SENOs are making recommendations for additional special needs assistants for schools, and these requests are being denied by the NCSE; and if she will examine this. [38031/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 47 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.

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

I know the central role that our special needs assistants (SNAs) play in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

That is why the number of SNAs available for allocation has continued to increase annually resulting in more SNAs than ever now being employed in our schools. Budget 2025 provided for 1,600 SNAs, the largest number ever allocated in a single year, meaning the total number of SNAs available in our schools in September will be 23,179. This is more than double the number of SNAs that were in our schools 10 years ago.

As the Deputy knows, it is the role of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to manage the allocations of SNAs across the country and to ensure that all of the additional SNAs provided for by this Government are allocated to schools to support those children with the highest level of need so they get the highest level of support.

The NCSE also now has a full complement of staffing so have the resources and supports to ensure they can do their work effectively and in a timely manner.

It is important that we continue to meet this need across our education system and as you know the Programme for Government commits to recruitment of additional SNAs to provide greater support to students and schools. We will continue to engage through the estimates process to ensure that we can meet the needs of all children in our schools.

The NCSE has responsibility for the allocation of special need assistant (SNA) nationwide therefore I have asked the NCSE to reply directly to your request for statistical data. It is important to remember that when the NCSE allocates a SNA post, the board of management as the employer, is responsible for filling the vacancy. The decision on whether to employ a full time SNA to fill a full-time post or to employ an equivalent number of part time SNAs rests with the employer.

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.

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025; the number of primary school places available in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area for children with Down syndrome with a general learning disability, not related to ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38077/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills ; further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025, the number of secondary school places available in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area for children with Down syndrome with a general learning disability, not related to ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38078/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025, if additional school places at both primary and secondary school level will be provided in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area for children with Down syndrome with a general learning disability, not related to ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38079/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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51. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 407 of 1 July 2025, if her attention has been drawn to the concerns of families in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area that have children with Down syndrome regarding the availability of special classes in their local community for children with a general learning disability, not related to ASD; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38080/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 49, 50 and 51 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.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.

The NCSE in its statutory capacity is responsible for the processing of details relating to individual students. The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need. As part of forward planning, parents are now requested to notify the NCSE directly where a child or young person requires a special class or special school place. The NCSE can advise and support families to access suitable local placements and can use this information to plan and sanction new special classes as required.

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. This includes special classes and special schools designated for children with mild, moderate, and severe or profound learning disabilities.

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 includes special classes and special schools designated for children with mild, moderate, and severe or profound learning disabilities.

In order to access these classes the student must have a professional report or recommendation stating a need for this level of support. A diagnosis for a condition such as Down Syndrome is not required.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that no matter where a child is enrolled they have access to the required supports to enable them to achieve their educational goals.

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.

Just over 400 new special classes are being provided for the coming school year. Of these 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. 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.

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.

This new parents notify process, which was introduced for the first time this year ensures that the NCSE have a clearer lens on the level of need for special class and special school places and the particular needs of children and young people. This is a key element when NCSE approach schools to establish a particular type of special class. The vast majority of children and young people being notified to the NCSE continue to require an autism special class.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.

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.