Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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352. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the case of a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; if additional places for mild learning disability classes will be accommodated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [65233/25]

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 students with special educational needs.

The NCSE has advised my department that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) is working closely with the family of the student referred to by the Deputy regarding options for school placements for the coming school year.

The NCSE is currently collating the data and information received by 1 October through the parents notify process and are engaging with schools regarding where specialist provision is best placed for the 2026/27 school year.

This information is critical when examining where provision needs to be placed to meet demand. This earlier date in October coincides with when schools begin enrolment processes so affords parents the opportunity to enrol in existing classes. Many mainstream schools, particularly at post-primary level commence admissions processes for the following school year on 1 October annually.

The NCSE is also working on sanctioning the majority of new special classes for the 2026/27 school year by 31 December 2025. This is four months earlier than last year and will bring clarity and certainty for both parents and schools as to where new classes will be located.

The NCSE continue to assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of new special classes over the coming weeks they will advise parents in turn on the location of new special classes for the 2026/27 school year.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for sudents with special educational needs.