Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
221. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of students enrolled in fee paying schools; the number of those schools that have special classes; the number of classes they have; if she will also provide the same statistics for public schools, and explain the discrepancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8790/26]
View answerAs per preliminary enrolment data for 2025-2026 there are 27,635 pupils enrolled in fee-charging schools and 402,019 pupils enrolled in non fee charging schools. The preliminary data will be replaced by the final enrolment data for 2025-26 in June 2026 at the following link;
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/collections/post-primary-schools-enrolment-figures/
Data on pupils in special classes in post-primary is provided to the Department by the NCSE, we do not have a complete data set for 2025-26 at this time but will revert to the Deputy with the information requested as soon as it becomes available.
The NCSE has been able to confirm that, for the 2025/26 school year, one fee-charging school is operating two special classes.
The NCSE advises that there are six pupils enrolled in each of these two classes.
The majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers, through the provision of resources such as Special Education Teachers and Special Needs Assistants.
This is an estimated 25% of the total student population, or 240,000 children and young people with special educational needs, that are supported in mainstream classes.
Over 30,500 students with more complex needs are enrolled in special classes and special schools this school year – an increase of 67% since 2020.
Over 1,900 new special classes and 16 new special schools have been established in the last five years.
This expansion reflects the Government’s commitment to inclusive education and ensuring every child with special educational needs receives the support they deserve.
The Department of Education and Youth and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), continue to forward plan to provide additional special class and special school places for children with complex special educational needs.
My department and the NCSE identify the need for special educational provision with consideration to demographical and statistical data and in regard to an area’s existing school provision and future capability. In addition, part of the forward planning process as to where new classes, schools or expansion is required looks at how far students are travelling to access an education that meets their needs. This is an important factor which has been incorporated into the decision-making process. Consideration is also given to the information the NCSE hold at local level on the number of children and young people seeking a special school place in a region.
In order to ensure new special classes can open as quickly as possible the NCSE prioritise working with medium and larger primary schools who do not already have a special class and have available accommodation to accommodate new special class. This approach maximises the use of existing space which can be reconfigured efficiently while also ensuring that new provision continues to be established. It also increases the number of schools with special classes providing parents with greater choice and reducing the distances that some students are travelling to access a special class place.
However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.
The vast majority of new special classes established in recent years are provided in available school accommodation which is being repurposed as a special class.
Budget 2026 provides funding for a further 3,000 special class and special school places to be provided for the 2026/2027 school year.
This month, the NCSE has begun sanctioning new special classes for 2026/27. 263 new special classes have been sanctioned to date and many more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks. The earlier sanctioning of new classes provides clarity for parents and allows schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. Details of the special classes in mainstream schools are available on the NCSE website which can be accessed [here.]
