Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
510. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children in County Carlow currently registered to start school in September 2026 that are seeking a special school place, seeking a special class/unit place, or expected to attend a mainstream school with SNA support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3589/26]
View answer512. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide data on the current capacity of special schools and special classes in County Carlow ; the projected demand for September 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3591/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 510 and 512 together.
This overnment 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.
406 new special classes were sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 8 are in County Carlow, 6 at primary and 2 at post-primary level.
This brings to 68 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 2 special schools in County Carlow with approximately 172 students enrolled.
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.
The NCSE is undertaking analysis of information provided through the Parents Notify process which closed on 1 October 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.
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.
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.
