Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2025
505. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of post-primary school applicants for the 2026/2027 intake in each school planning area in County Wicklow who submitted a letter of eligibility as part of their enrolment process; the number of students who were offered a special education place as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72410/25]
View answer506. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary school applicants for the 2026/2027 intake in each school planning area in County Wicklow who submitted a letter of eligibility as part of their enrolment process; the number of students who were offered a special education place as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72411/25]
View answer524. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of post-primary school applicants for the 2026-2027 intake in each school planning area in County Wicklow who submitted a letter of eligibility as part of their enrolment process; the number of students who were offered a special education place as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72553/25]
View answer525. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary school applicants for the 2026-2027 intake in each school planning area in County Wicklow who submitted a letter of eligibility as part of their enrolment process; the number of students who were offered a special education place as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [72554/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 505, 506, 524 and 525 together.
The 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 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.
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 to post-primary schools. 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 with 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 process and timeline. Consequently, the NCSE report a very 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 and are being supported by existing special education teachers and special needs assistants.
It is important that those who come forward after the closing date are assured that they are not forgotten or excluded from the system. I would stress that the NCSE will continue to support all children and young people made known to them after 1 October in their existing placement with appropriate resources. However, it is critical that the NCSE has as much local information as possible, as early as possible, to effectively plan what new provision.
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 specialist provision is subject to ongoing review.
