Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
172. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Education and Youth the actions her Department will take to address demand for special classes and ensure sufficient placements and support for children with additional needs. [70814/25]
View answerThe 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.
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.
The Parents Notify process will provide the NCSE with critical information on children who continue to need a special class as they progress to post-primary level as well as details on students who require a place for the first time.
This year to facilitate earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year, an earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to complete the process. This new timeline was publicised widely and communicated to schools, special education advocacy groups and parent representative bodies. The NCSE also undertook work at local level to ensure that families were aware of the timeline and process. Consequently the NCSE report a significant level of engagement from families ahead of the closing date.
The NCSE is undertaking analysis of information provided through the Parents Notify process to plot demand for special class places for the 2026/27 school year. The NCSE will also consider vacant places in existing special classes and places that will become available through the regular transition of children from primary for post-primary schools. The NCSE advise that the majority of children and young people coming to them through the Parent’s Notify process are already enrolled in school and are being supported by special education teachers and special needs assistants.
Once the analysis is complete, the NCSE will be equipped to engage with schools to open new special classes in relevant areas. It is expected that many of these special classes will be sanctioned by 31 December 2025.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for students with special educational needs and consequently demand for specialist provision is subject to ongoing review.
