Michael Cahill
Question:504. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth to ensure that all new school builds include an autism class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63796/25]
View answerTuesday, 18 November 2025
Questions (504)
Written answers
Dedicated classrooms for students with special education needs are now included as standard in all new accommodation briefs for new school buildings and major extension projects. The department would normally include two special education needs classes with a new eight classroom primary school and increase the number of special education classes based on the size of the primary school being provided. Similarly with a new 1,000 student post-primary school, the department is now looking to include six special education classes.
Furthermore, my department is progressing urgent building projects that involve the repurposing of existing space in schools for special education purposes. These projects will ensure that existing school capacity is optimised and that teaching spaces are adaptable and flexible to facilitate a student-centred approach to learning. Potential repurposing options will be school and site specific, presenting different opportunities and challenges.
To support the delivery of these classes, a new streamlined approach to funding was made available to repurpose accommodation for special education. A special education start up grant of €30,000 for each new special education classroom sanctioned and opened for the 2025/26 school year was payable to the school directly following receipt of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) notification of the sanctioned classes. Additional funding for small scale repurposing works up to a maximum of €70,000 per class was also available to schools on an application basis. Further information on special education repurposing supports can be accessed on www.gov.ie.