George Lawlor (Wexford, Labour)
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227. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the new services for children with special needs in County Wexford for which funding was sought for delivery in 2025; the funding sought for each initiative project, the funding allocated to each to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38576/25]

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.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised that just over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 12 are in County Wexford, 9 at primary and 3 at post primary level.

This will add to the 119 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 3 special schools in Wexford with approximately 300 students enrolled. This includes Gorey Hill Community Special School which opened in September 2024.

A number of new funding initiatives have been provided to schools this year when establishing a new special class. The level of funding is dependent on the required works to the school in order to accommodate the new class.

At a minimum €30,000 will be paid to each school that is approved by the NCSE to open a new special class. This grant does not require an application from the relevant schools - it is paid based on notification from the NCSE on schools that are opening new special classes for the 2025/26 school year.

Schools requiring small-scale re-purposing works also have a new simplified application process. The level of funding involved will depend on the nature of small-scale works to be undertaken and will be up to a maximum of €70,000 for each new special class being opened for the 2025/26 school year.

A minority of schools may require more significant works. On receipt of such applications, a more detailed technical assessment will be undertaken to validate the scope of necessary works. It is envisaged that this will also determine the initial phase of works needed to facilitate the opening of the special class for the 2025/26 school year.