Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 January 2026
108. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Youth , further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 1200 and 1201 of 13 January, if he will explain the reason a report is being insisted upon when a letter from the children's disability network team, CDNT, has always sufficed in the past; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4704/26]
View answerThis 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 majority of students with special education needs in this country are supported by their classroom teachers, special education teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to attend mainstream classes with their peers. This is considered the most inclusive environment for students with special education needs and ensures that students can attend their local school. My Department has significantly increased the resources available to support students with special educational needs in mainstream provision with 15,000 special education teachers and over 12,500 SNAs.
Where students have more complex needs a special class or special school is provided. What is important here is that students have access to a placement that is appropriate to their needs and that is why in October 2024, my Department issued a circular letter to all schools setting out a range of new measures to support the forward planning of special education. Among the new measures introduced was a request for parents of children seeking a special education placement, including students already attending mainstream classes, to notify the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
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.
I am happy to advise that 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's website.
An earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to complete the Parents Notify process this year. I understand this earlier date may not suit every family. However, it was introduced to ensure the NCSE can provide clarity for families earlier than in previous years. It will also support forward planning and equip the NCSE with timely information as to what students would be leaving school, transitioning to post-primary specialist places or those seeking specialist placement and entering the education system for the first time.
I would like to 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 supports. However, it is critical that the NCSE has as much local information as possible, as early as possible, to effectively plan what new provision is required.
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.
