Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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445. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to update the educational system at primary and secondary level to cater for students with mild learning disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47586/25]

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 are being provided for the coming 2025/2026 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 is noted that many of the children enrolling in mild general learning disability special school do so around the transition point from primary to post-primary. The new senior cycle level 1 and level 2 programmes offers a new curriculum pathway for students with special educational needs at post-primary level now also.

It is my department’s policy, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary.

The department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools and students with special educational needs in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education.

My department has significantly increased the resources available to support children with special educational needs in mainstream provision. For the 2025/26 school year there will be 15,000 special education teachers and over 12,500 special needs assistants in schools supporting students in mainstream classes.

For children with more complex needs special class and special school places are provided. My department works closely with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. My department and the NCSE identify the need for special educational provision with consideration to demographical and statistical data and in regard to an areas existing school provision and future capability.

Where the NCSE identifies need for a moderate general learning disability class, these classes are sanctioned, and supports are provided by my department to ensure the school can accommodate the class. The majority of any mild general learning disability special classes and special schools pre-date the huge increase in the level of supports in mainstream classes for children with additional needs in the form of new special education teaches and Special Needs Assistants.

Looking forward my department and the NCSE have begun preparatory work in relation to planning for the provision of further new special class and special school places for the 2026/27 school year and beyond.

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.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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446. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to update the SNA allocation process in primary and secondary schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47587/25]

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).

SNAs play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools. They help ensure that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs.

NCSE contacted all schools the on the 13th of June with their initial SNA allocations for the 2025/26 school year.

Considerable work has been undertaken by the NCSE to streamline the SNA review process and they will continue to streamline the process further in 2025/26 to support schools.

It is intended, in future academic years, to align the release of SNA allocations with the annual staffing schedules to schools (mainstream and special education teachers).

This will allow schools to better plan for their care needs in a timely manner.

It also provides certainty and assurances to affected staff of their future school placements by allowing the SNA redeployment processes to conclude as appropriate.

Annual staffing schedules generally issue to schools in February of each year.

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.