William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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869. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the availability of school places in County Laois for children with autism; the number of children currently without a school place in the county; her future plans to streamline the application process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59797/25]

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.

Close to 4, 000 places were made available for the 2025/26 school year. This was made up of 2,700 new places and 1,200 places through the natural movement of students from primary to post-primary or out of education. Of the 407 new special classes sanctioned 13 are in County Laois, 8 at primary and 5 at post-primary level. This brings to 94 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county. The vast majority of these classes are for children with autism. There are also 2 special schools in County Laois with approximately 160 students enrolled.

The NCSE is currently collating the data and information received through the parents notify process and are engaging with schools regarding where specialist provision is best placed for the 2026/27 school year. It is envisioned that the majority of these special classes will be sanctioned by 31 December 2025. Consideration is also being given to where additional special school capacity is needed for the next school year, either through the expansion of existing schools or the establishment of new special schools.

The common application system pilot was also introduced in some areas of the country, running concurrently is the extension of the autism class application trial in the Dublin 15 area. These pilots form an important step towards delivering a more efficient, transparent, and equitable school application process. It will reduce stress for parents and children, ease administrative burdens on schools, while also supporting better planning for school places.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs and will continue to review and monitor the situation as to where new specialist provision is required.