Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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499. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a school (details supplied) will be fully open; the current opening hours; the number of pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61245/25]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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522. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the opening of a new special school in Lucan; to provide details of the current weekly hours of attendance for class groups; the weekly hours of attendance going forward; and information on school transport arrangements for the students of the school. [61565/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 522 together.

Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now over 30,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places were created for the 2025/26 school year and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places due to students moving on from primary schools and post-primary schools, has meant that close to 4,000 specialist places were made available for the 2025/26 school year.

In total 407 new special classes were sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 103 are in County Dublin, 81 at primary and 22 at post-primary level. This brings to 705 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 42 special schools in County Dublin with approximately 2,740 students enrolled. Two of the five new special schools established for this school year, are located in the county and are situated in Belmayne and Lucan.

Each new class within these special schools have been staffed with a dedicated teacher, two special needs assistants and further staffing has been allocated based on the individual needs of the students enrolled.

For the 2025/26 school year 30 students have enrolled in the school referred to by the Deputy. These students started attending the school earlier this month in accordance with their individual student transition plans which parents and families of students were advised of in advance of the school opening. To date 27 applications for transport have been received to the school and these applications are being currently being processed by Bus Éireann.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) as the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for children with special educational needs remains available to offer advice and support to families as required. Parents and schools can contact the NCSE directly using the details available on the NCSE's website: .