Jen Cummins
Question:474. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth when the commencement date of the new special education class in a school (details supplied). [3382/26]
View answerTuesday, 20 January 2026
Questions (474)
Written answers
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.
The 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.
The NCSE have formally sanctioned 168 (105 primary and 63 post-primary) new special classes in 159 schools across the country for the next school year 2026/2027. This is the first tranche of new special classes being sanctioned and is a number of months ahead of last year. The NCSE expect to continue to sanction further new special classes over the coming weeks. The earlier sanctioning of these classes will provide clarity for parents and allow schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website.
The Department of Education and Youth is supporting schools through the provision of resourcing to support the opening of the new special classes, which includes teachers, special needs assistants, furniture and equipment grants and training from the NCSE. In addition, funding for the repurposing of existing accommodation or the provision of modular accommodation for new special classes is also provided. The vast majority of new special classes are being provided in repurposed available school accommodation. New streamlined arrangements are in place to provide grant funding for schools repurposing accommodation for special classes (Circular Letter 0080/2024 and SEN Repurposing Information).
For those special classes sanctioned recently, the NCSE will work closely with schools to progress with the admission of students and the recruitment and training of staff.
The typical student capacity and staffing resource for each special class is determined by the designation of the special class - this is set out in Appendix 2 of the NCSE Guidelines for Setting Up and Organising Special Classes.
Each autism special class at post-primary school level provides for 6 students, two SNAs and an allocation of 1.5 special education teacher.
Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on 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.