Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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997. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the opening of a special class at a school (details supplied). [40816/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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As you are aware 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.

My department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) identify the need for special educational provision with consideration to demographical and statistical data and in regard to an areas existing school provision and future capability. In addition, part of the forward planning process as to where new classes, schools or expansion is required looks at how far students are travelling to access an education appropriate to their needs. This is an important factor which has been incorporated into the decision-making process as to where new classes should open or where classes are no longer required. Significant consideration is also given to the information the NCSE hold at local level on the number of children requiring a specialist placement in a region.

During the planning process a number of schools may be approached to consider opening a special class in their locality. It is preferred that schools with existing accommodation and no existing special class are given preference in this regard. This allows schools to open classes more quickly and also ensures that more schools provide specialist provision providing more diverse options for parents in their local areas. In order to ensure resources are utilised to the maximum additional classes are only sanctioned where there is known demand and where existing classes have been fully utilised. This ensures resources are allocated to classes where they required, when they are required.

Any school that opens a special class and is willing to open a second special class is to be commended.

The school referred to by the Deputy is an Irish medium school. The school has an existing special class and had worked with the NCSE collaboratively to open a second special class if required for the coming 2025/2026 school. Recent engagement by the NCSE with the school confirms that the first special class has just reached capacity and there is insufficient local need to open the second special class at this time.

The NCSE advise that the school's second classes is expected to open for the 2026/27 school year based on expected demand. The NCSE at a local level will also continue to monitor the situation and provide support and advice to the school as required.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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998. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the opening of a special class at a school (details supplied). [40817/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was approved by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to open a special class for the 2025/2026 school year. Following receipt of NCSE notification of sanctioned classes to my Department a SEN Start Up grant of €30,000 was paid to the school directly.

Additional funding for small scale repurposing works up to a maximum of €70,000 per class is also available to schools on an application basis.

I am pleased to advise that my Department has approved an application for additional funding submitted by the school.

It is now within the remit of the school authority to progress this project accordingly. My Department will continue to assist the school to progress this important project.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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999. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the opening of a special class at a school (details supplied). [40818/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The school to which the Deputy refers was approved by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to open a special class for the 2025/2026 school year. Following receipt of NCSE notification of sanctioned classes to my Department a SEN Start Up grant of €30,000 was paid to the school directly.

Additional funding for small scale repurposing works up to a maximum of €70,000 per class is also available to schools on an application basis.

I am pleased to advise that my Department has approved an application for additional funding submitted by the school.

It is now within the remit of the school authority to progress this project accordingly. My Department will continue to assist the school to progress this important project.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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1000. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the opening of a special class at a school (details supplied). [40819/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The NCSE advise that 407 new special classes have been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these seven are in County Roscommon, three at primary and four at post primary level. Two of these classes will open in the school referred to by the Deputy.

My department's Planning and Building Unit has confirmed that this school has a building project ongoing which will create, in addition to other spaces, three special education classrooms. The school has also received funding for reconfiguration works to the existing building to accommodate the new classes for the coming school year.

This year, the approach taken was to maximise the use of existing accommodation in schools to ensure new special classes could open as quickly as possible for the 2025/26 school year. The NCSE also prioritised schools which did not have an existing special class. This has ensured that 80% of the new classes sanctioned are in schools with available accommodation.

Where schools require modular accommodation for new special classes, these projects are being fast-tracked by my department to deliver this accommodation as early as possible. In a small number of instances where a delay in new special class accommodation is expected such as where new modular classrooms are being provided, contingency arrangements are being made with the relevant schools with the support of the NCSE.

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