Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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773. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the assessment her officials have undertaken on the impact of the redesignation of special schools referred to in circular 0039/2025; the way in which the eligibility criteria have been established; if she will consider changes or deferments to the policy where it is clear no additional supports are available to children who need them in a mainstream setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44736/25]

Michael 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 have been provided for the 2025/26 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, the 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 the 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 also 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 also offers a new curriculum pathway for students with special educational needs at post-primary level.

We need these special schools to grow and expand their designation in line with our continually evolving education system. Students already enrolled in these schools will not be impacted and any change in designation will be gradual and will relate to new admissions only.

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.