Written answers

Thursday, 17 July 2025

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs

Photo of Jen CumminsJen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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127. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to pause the reconfiguration of MGLD schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39685/25]

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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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 2025/2026 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.

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. 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 that it is 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 diversified 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 and my department will continue to support schools in 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 a 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.

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.

Photo of Ruairí Ó MurchúRuairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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128. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the plans there are to offer educational solutions at primary and secondary schools for students with mild learning disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39353/25]

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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In working to develop a more inclusive education system, we want to support students to attend their local mainstream schools. This means that children can be educated with their peers and are not required to travel long distances to attend special schools or classes.

15,000 special education teachers have been provided to enable schools to achieve this. In practical terms this means schools get a substantial additional teaching allocation to support children with special education needs who are in mainstream classes.

The additional resources are intended to support students with the greatest level of need, including those with a mild general learning disability.

Of course, building the capacity of teachers in mainstream schools to meet the needs of all students is important. To support this, 338 places are funded each year to teachers to attend post-graduate special education needs programmes. In addition, the NCSE offers dedicated professional learning opportunities for teachers supporting students with additional needs. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) also provides professional learning opportunities that are available to all primary and post primary school teachers on supporting children and young people 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.

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