Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
493. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a teacher will be sanctioned to ensure a school (details supplied) can operate a new autism class from January 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72255/25]
View answerEnabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided.
This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
Almost 1,900 classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE in the last five years, sixteen new special schools have been established and many more expanded. For the 2025/26 school year alone over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to over 3,700. Five new special schools were established and capacity is being expanded in a number of other special schools.
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 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, an earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to complete the process. It is expected that these special classes will be sanctioned in the coming weeks.
The NCSE will have a clear picture of the local demand for special class places for the 2026/27 school year after they review and assess all of the information which has been provided through the parents' notification process which closed on 1 October.
The school referred to by the Deputy is located in interim accommodation on a rented site. The accommodation recently provided also includes for their junior infant mainstream intake for next year. There is no further room for expansion on this site and all of the accommodation now on site is required to cater for the schools mainstream intake until their permanent accommodation is delivered. It is not possible for any of the accommodation currently on site to be used to establish a SEN class.
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.
