Special Educational Needs

Tuesday, 16 December 2025

Questions (414)

Marie Sherlock

Question:

414. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Education and Youth to detail each of the SEBD special schools across Ireland, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71314/25]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

This government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.

Special schools support children and young people aged between 4 and 18 years of age with the most complex special educational needs and ensure positive links are established and fostered between the home, school and other agencies for these students.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) advise that there are seven schools with a designation of Schools for Emotionally Disturbed Children. However, it is important to remember that a number of special schools have diversified since they were established to enrol students from their local area with varying degrees of complex needs. This diversification allows children and young people to attend their local special school without the need to travel long distances so as to receive the supports they need. For further information on special schools please see my Department's website on www.gov.ie and the NCSE website.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.