Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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489. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills regarding the new process for completion of assessments and eligibility letters in advance of applying for special school places by 1 October, where previously the deadline would have been February of the applicable year, if the portal will re-open; if so, when; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61145/25]

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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495. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she plans to change the arbitrary deadline of 1 October for parents or guardians to submit a letter of eligibility for the admission of students with a disability or special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61241/25]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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517. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to letters of eligibility from the NCSE, if the cut-off date for parents to notify will be removed with a view to allowing families apply, as needed, given delays to assessment of needs, AON, processes and the need to submit assessment reports alongside an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61560/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 489, 495 and 517 together.

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.

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 2026/27 school year after they review and assess all of the information which has been provided through the parents' notification process.

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.

It is important that an earlier date was introduced to ensure the NCSE can provide clarity and certainty for families much earlier than in previous years. It will also enable schools to plan more efficiently and will see classes needing significant building works open in time for September's intake of students. The 1 October timeline is in keeping with when admission processes for mainstream primary and post-primary schools can commence.

The NCSE report a significant level of response by families by the 1 October timeline.