Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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1223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made to provide additional autism units at primary and secondary schools in County Louth for the September 2025 intake of students; if she will outline plans for additional autism units to come on stream for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43429/25]

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.

407 new special classes have been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 17 are in County Louth, 13 at primary and 4 at post primary level. This brings to the 115 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 4 special schools in County Louth with approximately 420 students enrolled.

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.