Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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809. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the difficulties that have arisen for parents as a result of the introduction of the requirement for a letter of eligibility when applying for a place in a special class or special school; the process which is currently available to parents who did not apply before the NCSE portal closed on 1 October 2025; and to explain the mechanism her Department is putting in place to ensure that children who are awaiting professional assessments are not excluded from securing a suitable school place for the 2026-2027 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59051/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for children with special educational needs.

As you are aware in order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child. An earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to do so.

This notification process will provide the NCSE with valuable information as to which children will continue to require a special class as they progress to post-primary level and details on students who require a place for the first time.

The earlier date will allow for earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year, and it is the aim of the NCSE to sanction the majority of new special classes by 31 December 2025.

The NCSE will have a clear picture of the local demand for special class places for the 2026/2027 school year after they review and assess all of the information which has been provided through the parents' notification process which closed on 1 October.

Once the NCSE has fully collated and assessed this information, the NCSE will be in a position to engage with schools across the country to open new special classes. The NCSE will also have due regard to any vacant places in existing special classes in an area and any places that will become available through the normal movement of children leaving primary or post-primary school.

The NCSE report a very significant level of contact and notifications from parents of children seeking a special class or special school place for the next school year by the 1 October timeline.

I would like to stress that the NCSE will continue to try to support all children made known to them after this date also, however, it is important for planning purposes that we set an earlier timeframe for which the NCSE has as much local knowledge and detail as possible in order to plan what new provision is required.

I understand that this earlier date does not suit every family, however, I assure you that the NCSE will provide support and guidance to every family seeking a specialist placement for the 2026/27 even if they were not in a position to meet the 1 October deadline.