Conor McGuinness (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place to support children without a special needs school place in this school year. [59598/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that children will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.

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.

The NCSE undertook a recent exercise to establish the level of special class vacancies in schools across the country and this shows almost 800 vacant special class places remaining at the start of this school year. These places are available to children and young people seeking a placement now and will be a key element of forward planning for new special class provision for the next school year 2026/2027.