Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
468. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Education and Youth to clarify a matter from the NCSE (details supplied) regarding applications to a reading school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71945/25]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for children with special educational needs.
In working to develop a more inclusive education system, 15,000 special education teachers have been provided to schools to support students to attend their local mainstream schools. In practical terms this means schools get a substantial additional teaching allocation to support students with special education needs such as dyslexia who are in mainstream classes.
Circular 0039/2025 informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE through the Parent Notify process that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child.
This notification 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 and provide certainty for families an earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to complete the process.
The NCSE is undertaking analysis of information including that provided through the Parents Notify process to plot demand for special class places for the 2026/27 school year. Once this analysis is completed the NCSE will be equipped to engage with schools to open new special classes in relevant areas. It is expected that these special classes will be sanctioned in the coming weeks.
This new timeline was publicised widely and communicated to schools and special education advocacy groups and parent representative bodies. The NCSE also undertook a lot of work at local level to ensure that families were aware of the timeline and process and consequently report a significant level of engagement and contact from families ahead of the 1 October closing date.
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 supported by existing special education teachers and special needs assistants.
As with other applications for support, it is important that those who come forward after the closing date are assured that they are not forgotten or excluded from the system. The NCSE remains available to provide advice and support to all families seeking specialist placement and will continue to examine where provision is required for the 2026/27 school year.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs and the need for new specialist provision is subject to ongoing review.
