Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
110. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the action being taken to address the barriers in place for children in Drogheda and beyond seeking special school places for the next school term because they have missed the arbitrary cut-off time imposed by NCSE to apply for places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11022/26]
View answerThe Government is committed to the continued accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places for 2026/27 by providing at least 3,000 new places in locations where it best meets existing and future demand. The provision of timely information is a key requirement to support the forward planning of new special education provision.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body tasked with sanctioning new special education provision in our schools.
Budget 2026 provides funding for over 400 new special classes and at least 400 new special school places for the 2026/2027 school year.
The NCSE has sanctioned 301 special classes this year with more planned in the coming weeks. This is a number of months ahead of last year and should provide greater clarity for parents.
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 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 also undertook a lot of work at local level to ensure that families were aware of the timeline and process.
The NCSE advise that the majority of children and young people coming through the Parents Notify process and seeking a special class or special school place for the 2026/2027 school year are already enrolled in school and are being supported by existing special education teachers and special needs assistants.
The NCSE has also advised my department of an increasing number of children and young people who have come to their attention since the 1 October timeline. My department and the NCSE have worked on proposals to address the needs of children and young people coming forward to the NCSE after 1 October. I am pleased to confirm that the NCSE has this week recommenced the issuing of letters of eligibility to children and young people who have made contact with them after the 1 October timeline and who meet the criteria for a special class or special school placement.
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.
