Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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197. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to review the NCSE policy requiring exclusive clinical wording for access to autism classes, in cases where a clinician recommends placement, given concerns that this may prevent children from receiving appropriate supports based on professional advice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53980/25]

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.

It is important to remember that the majority of children with special educational needs are supported by classroom teachers, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants to attend mainstream classes with their peers. For children with more complex needs a special class can be provided and for children with the most complex needs a special school place can be provided.

The criteria for enrolment in a special class is outlined in a number of circulars pertaining to the specific designation of the special class. My department keep this criteria under review and update these circulars accordingly in light of developments and best practice in the area of special education.

The specific criteria for enrolment in autism special classes has been clearly set out in circular letter 0039/2025 published in May this year. This gives parents and schools clarity around the criteria to be met to apply for admission to an autism special class and allows for consistency across schools.

In October 2024, my department issued a circular letter to all schools setting out a range of new measures to support the forward planning of special education. Among the new measures introduced was a request for the parents of children seeking a special education placement, including children already attending mainstream classes, to notify the NCSE of their preference for a specialist placement. This requirement was introduced to ensure that the NCSE has better awareness of where demand for specialist provision is required at a local level. In doing so it allows the NCSE to plan for and sanction the appropriate provision much earlier than in previous years.

The NCSE set up a portal in which parents could submit reports and documents regarding their child's education requirements. By doing so it has allowed the NCSE to review recommendations and reports to ensure children meet the requirements as set out by my department to enrol in a specialist placement. Once the documentation submitted has been reviewed against the outlined criteria, a letter issues to the family which notifies them if the evidence submitted supports placement in a specialist setting. This letter is important as it is required to be submitted with enrolment forms to schools and informs schools that the child meets the criteria for enrolment into a special class.

This process removes an administrative burden on schools and negates the need for schools to interpret such specialist documentation and reports with regard to departmental policy. In doing so it also ensures that every child applying to a school has an equal opportunity in securing a placement in that school.

It is important that parents continue to engage with the NCSE when seeking a special educational placement and provide the NCSE with any updated or supporting documentation as soon as possible. While the 1 October deadline has passed the NCSE continue to support and provide guidance to families regarding special education placements and available supports.