Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 March 2025
63. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Dublin 11 expressed an interest in opening a specialist class in the past year or academic year, and how many of these applications were refused; the reasons for any refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14261/25]
View answer64. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education how many schools in Dublin 11 were approached by the National Council for Special Education to open a specialist class, and what percentage of those schools declined; the reasons given for these refusals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14262/25]
View answer72. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in Dublin 11 that expressed an interest in opening a special education class in the past two years; and the number of applications that were refused. [14340/25]
View answer73. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in Dublin 11 approached by the National Council for Special Education to open a special education class; and the number of schools that declined to do so if appropriate. [14341/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 64, 72 and 73 together.
This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
The NCSE, in line with their statutory function, approach schools in relation to opening new special classes directly and the level of information and detail requested is held by them in order to perform this function. I will therefore share your request with the NCSE for a direct reply.
Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special class and 300 additional special school places. On top of this, there will be over 1,000 places available through the normal annual movement of students progressing from primary to post-primary and students graduating from post-primary or special schools. There also remains special class vacancies in some areas of the country.
Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 336 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 53 are in Dublin, 37 at primary and 16 at post primary level.
This will add to the 602 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 40 special schools in Dublin with approximately 2,600 students enrolled. Two of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in Lucan and Belmayne also. These schools will open for enrolment shortly.
In Dublin and indeed nationwide, the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm further classes. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of the remaining special classes they will inform parents.
Where new special classes have been sanctioned, I would urge schools to progress the admission of students as soon as possible to ensure that the NCSE can continue to evaluate demand in local areas, sanction classes as required and assist parents in securing a school place.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
