Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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429. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in Cork who notified the NCSE by 1 October 2025 that they require an autism-specific class or special school place for the 2026–2027 school year; the number of new classes required to meet this demand; the number sanctioned to date; and the steps she will take to guarantee that all eligible children in Cork receive an appropriate placement for the 2026–2027 school year. [64786/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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436. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children in Cork City and Cork County who notified the NCSE by 1 October 2025 that they require an autism-specific class or special school place for the 2026-2027 school year, by primary and post-primary level. [64977/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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437. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new autism classes that the NCSE has identified as required in Cork for 2026-2027; and the number that have been sanctioned to date. [64978/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 429, 436 and 437 together.

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.

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 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.

I understand that this earlier date does not suit every family, however, 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.

I would like to stress that the NCSE will continue to support all children made known to them after the October deadline 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.