Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1218. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans and timelines for the expansion of the school inclusion model and school based therapies for special schools, for autism classes and for mainstream; the number of various therapists required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43424/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The Education Plan 2025, which was announced on the 19th of June 2025, confirmed Government approval for the establishment of the Education Therapy Service (ETS). This will see therapy supports extended within the education system, initially in special schools, and subsequently expanded to schools with special classes and mainstream provision overtime. This is not to replace HSE services but rather to compliment existing supports recognising that special schools support children with complex needs.

The ETS will be delivered by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). The service will assign therapist/s to special schools and employ a multi-tiered model of support, which includes supports at a universal, targeted and individualised level. Ensuring children with the greatest level of need receive the greatest level of support

Officials in my Department are engaging with relevant Departments and agencies on the design, timelines, alignment, integrated working and costings involved to deliver this ambitious programme of work.

It is anticipated that the service will commence in 45 special schools at a later stage in the 2025/26 school year. Further roll out of the service will occur on a phased basis with a wider roll-out to other special schools within the 2026/2027 school year. It is planned that 45 special schools will be included in the initial phase of this roll out.

The development and delivery of this service will build on the NCSE previous work, delivered through the Educational Therapy Support Service (ETSS) and the School Inclusion Model (SIM) and the Enhanced In-School Therapies pilot. The learnings from all these services and initiatives has been incorporated in the design and development of the ETS.

This service, which will focus initially, on Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy. Clinical governance will be provided through a therapy management structure, ensuring robust clinical supervision.

In tandem, NCSE Therapy will provide a further 2 strands of support to both mainstream and special schools through the Education Therapy Support Service model, established in June 2024 and comprising of 39 therapists, initially.

Sustained in-school support (SIT) is provided to schools for a defined period of 18-24 months in line with the School Inclusion Model. 22 schools in the Eastern region are currently availing of this service. Schools in the Western regions, specifically in the counties of Limerick and Tipperary were invited to apply to the NCSE for Strand II sustained supports for the 2025/26 school year and schools will be confirmed next month.

Regional therapy support (RT) provides a national Therapy Teacher Training Service which involves teacher professional learning with in-school coaching and modelling in line with supports currently provided by the Educational Therapy Support Service within the NCSE. It is planned that these supports will be available nationally for the 2025/2026 school year.

The ETS will work alongside existing services such as CDNT’s and NEPS to ensure all children and young people have the opportunity to access supports in the right place at the right time, supporting the realisation of their full potential and engagement in their education.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1219. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans for assistive technology as a means of facilitating special education and school based therapies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43425/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Assistive technology is seen as a critical enabler for those with special educational needs to gain the maximum benefit from a modern technologically focused education system.

In Budget 2023, an additional €2 million funding was secured for the Assistive Technology Scheme, an increase of almost 60% on funding allocated previously to this essential support.

The purpose of the Assistive Technology Scheme is to provide grant-aid to schools to enable them to purchase essential specialist equipment. This applies in cases where the existing equipment in the school is insufficient to meet a student's needs without unduly depriving other students of access to the equipment and where the absence of such equipment would prevent a student from accessing the curriculum.

Where students require assistive technology to access the curriculum, it is crucial to ensure that the equipment aligns with their needs and is informed through an assessment of those needs. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) review applications for assistive technology and make recommendations, based on this application and available professional reports, to my department who then decide on the level of grant to be provided, if any.

Promoting the use of assistive technologies is a key commitment under the current Programme for Government. It remains a Ministerial priority to ensure that children can obtain the technology they need, when they need it, to fully access the curriculum. A review of the Assistive Technology Scheme is currently underway in my department with one of its primary goals being to streamline the application process.

In addition, the development and delivery of the Education Therapy Service will be informed by detailed engagement with our colleagues in the Health Service Executive and the NCSE. This will include considering the current procedures regarding the recommendation and provision of assistive technology as a therapy support in a school setting.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1220. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place to ensure students with special educational needs are facilitated in getting appropriate school places, at primary and secondary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43426/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1224. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department plans to develop a strategic plan for the provision of SEN at primary schools over the next three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43430/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1220 and 1224 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 year, in order to ensure new special classes could open as quickly as possible for the 2025/26 school year the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) prioritised work with medium and larger primary schools which have available accommodation, and do not have an existing special class. This approach maximises the use of existing space which can be reconfigured efficiently while also ensuring that new provision continues to be established.

The increased number of schools with special classes provides parents with greater choice and it will also reduce the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place. This will remain a priority for the 2026/27 school year.

However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.

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 information 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 NCSE will be actively communicating this requirement nationally also.

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.