Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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1015. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special education teachers and special needs assistants assigned to schools, both primary and post-primary, in Cork since 2021; if the assessed demand for both special education teachers and special needs assistants across the Cork region is being met; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40956/25]

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.

By the end of the year there will be close to 21,000 special educational teachers and 23,000 special needs assistants (SNAs) in our mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. This will mean we will have over 44,000 teachers and SNAs working in our education system committed to supporting and nurturing children with special educational needs, enabling them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised.

Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line atoireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.

The NCSE publishes the special education resource allocations for each county on an annual basis and they are presently compiling the data for the 2025/26 school year and this will be published shortly on the NCSE website.

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.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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1016. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the up-to-date position on the current availability and adequacy of provision of education places for children with additional and complex needs in Cork city and county; the current number of special school places, autism classes, children awaiting placement and planned expansion for 2025-2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40957/25]

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 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 is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that children will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.

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.

407 new special classes have been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 54 are in County Cork, 37 at primary and 17 at post primary level.

This brings to the 617 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 16 special schools in Cork with approximately 1,060 students enrolled. One of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in the North City area of Cork also. This school will initially enrol 24 students and will grow and expand over time.

The NCSE advise that there is sufficient special class provision to meet the level of need made known to them by the mid February deadline, across County Cork for the coming school year.

The NCSE also advise that between the new special school places and the significant expansion of both East Cork Community Special School and Rochestown Community Special School and additional places in some other special schools will provide sufficient special school places across Cork to meet the level of need known to the NCSE for the coming school year.

The NCSE and my department have worked very closely with the Cork Education Training Board (ETB) to provide these additional places for the coming school year and are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.