Aidan Farrelly (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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453. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to parliamentary question 385 of 17 June 2025, for an update regarding the provision of ASD classrooms; the steps she has taken to resolve an issue relating to title deeds for a school; if she and/or her officials have liaised with the school in respect of their concerns; and the steps she will take on foot of correspondence received by her on the matter (details supplied).; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51466/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

My department's planning and building unit confirm that the they have not received an accommodation application in relation to this school. It is understood that the school authority continues to liaise with Kildare Council regarding the acquisition of land adjacent to the school.

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. Building on successive budgets, Budget 2025 secured funding for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, and an additional 300 special school places for the 2025/26 school year. Together this has delivered 2,700 new places.

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.

In order to ensure new special classes can open as quickly as possible the NCSE prioritise working with medium and larger primary schools who do not already have a special class and have available accommodation to accommodate new special class. This approach maximises the use of existing space which can be reconfigured efficiently while also ensuring that new provision continues to be established. It also increases number of schools with special classes providing parents with greater choice and reducing the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place. However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.

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