Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

576. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of teachers, overall staff numbers and number of students at two schools (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49045/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I have forwarded this issue to them for their attention and direct reply.

Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas query line at oireachtasqueries@ncse.ie.

Teachers for special educational needs are allocated in a number of different ways depending on whether it is through mainstream, special schools or special classes. The NCSE plays a significant role in the processes for this allocation given their function in section 20 (1) (f) of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) 2004 – 'to assess and review the resources required in relation to educational provision for children with special educational needs.' For special schools and classes, the ratios for teacher to student is grounded in the report of the special education review committee or SERC report from 1993. While this report provides a grounding for the allocation to special schools and classes, the NCSE can also examine the allocations based on the individual needs of the school/class. There are department circulars / guidelines and NCSE guidelines and processes in place which determine the number of teachers in place to support children with special educational needs.

When a new special school is established, there is an automatic allocation of a minimum of one teacher and two special needs assistants (SNAs) per class of six children but this is invariably increased based on the profile of needs of the children enrolled. Special schools are resourced by the NCSE based on an annual review of their enrolment and the profile of the children and young people enrolled in them. Schools may apply to the NCSE for a review of their resource allocation. The NCSE will examine each request individually with consideration to each school's student profile. Special schools are also allocated admin deputy principals and additional hours for post primary teaching.

The teacher and SNA allocations for special schools for the 2025/2026 school year have been published on the NCSE at ncse.ie/set-hours-and-sna-allocations.

Final enrolments for the 2024-25 school year for both schools are below:

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.