Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
185. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Education and Youth the forward planning measures in place to address the shortage of ASD class places in both primary and secondary schools in Kildare north, given rising population and demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [70776/25]
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.
Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now over 30,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places were created for the 2025/26 school year and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places due to students moving from primary schools and post-primary schools means that close to 4,000 specialist places were available for the 2025/26 school year.
407 new special classes were sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 17 are in County Kildare, 14 at primary and 3 at post-primary level.
This brings to 148 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 6 special schools in County Kildare with approximately 359 students enrolled.
The NCSE is undertaking analysis of information provided through the Parents Notify process which closed on 1 October to plot demand for specialist places for the 2026/27 school year. 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.
