Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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866. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students enrolled in special classes in the Youghal school planning area; the number of autistic students enrolled in mainstream classes within the Youghal school planning area; and the number of children on reduced timetables within the Youghal school planning area. [45930/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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867. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students enrolled in special classes in the Dungarvan school planning area; the number of autistic students enrolled in mainstream classes within the Dungarvan school planning area; and the number of children on reduced timetables within the Dungarvan school planning area. [45931/25]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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868. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students enrolled in special classes in the Lismore school planning area; the number of autistic students enrolled in mainstream classes within the Lismore school planning area; and the number of children on reduced timetables within the Lismore school planning area. [45932/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 866, 867 and 868 together.

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 54 are in County Cork and 16 in County Waterford. This brings to 617 the number of special classes currently in operation in Cork and 86 in Waterford. The vast majority of these classes are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.

Across the three Local School planning Areas (SPAs) there are 47 autism special classes and 2 autism early intervention special classes in mainstream schools. The attached file details the schools in these LSPAs that provide autism special classes.

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

The position of the Department of Education is that all pupils who are enrolled in a school should attend school for the full day. Where this is not possible for exceptional circumstances this is known as a reduced school day.

Where a reduced school day is used, it should be applied proportionately and should last only as long as is necessary to facilitate a return to school on a full-time basis. Signed parental/guardian consent (or consent of the student if over 18) should be received prior to implementation of a reduced school day. The guidelines set out that where consent is not given or subsequently withdrawn and the school proceeds or continues with a reduced school day, this is effectively a suspension, and an appeal may be made under section 29 of the Education Act 1998.

During the 2023/24 school year TESS, the Tusla Education Support Service received less than 5 notificiations of RSD in respect of both the Dungarvan and Youghal school planning areas. TESS did not receive any notification in respect of children in the Lismore planning area. Data in respect of the 2024/25 school year will be published before the end of the calendar year.