Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
487. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No. 350 of 19 February 2026, the exact number of early intervention preschool classes for autistic children in mainstream and special schools that have been redesignated to primary autism classes/other special classes for the 2026/2027 school year. [16899/26]
View answer489. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth her plans to redesignate any more early intervention classes for the school year 2026/2027 or 2027/2028; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16901/26]
View answer490. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of early intervention classes which were redesignated to primary autism classes/other special classes for each of the years 2020 to 2025, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16902/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 487, 489 and 490 together.
Enabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which advocates that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
Where the NCSE identifies need for an early intervention class, the class is sanctioned and supports are provided by my department to ensure the school can accommodate the class. Generally, these classes are resourced at a 6:1 student/teacher ratio and two special needs assistants (SNAs) are allocated to each class.
Early intervention classes are available in mainstream and special school settings for children aged 3 -5 years old with a diagnosis of autism. There is also a small number dedicated to children who are deaf/hard of hearing. These classes are intended to provide early support to children before they start school and can aid their transition to junior infants. A list of special classes including class type is available on the NCSE website.
The NCSE in collaboration with the Department of Education and Youth may re-designate an early year’s class to a primary age class where there is verified demand for increased special class provision in the locality. Whilst all stakeholders are agreed on the value of early intervention, the NCSE must consider the legislative requirement for children over six to attend school.
The NCSE work closely with the department to ensure we explore all viable options in increasing such provision to meet the local need. In some areas, where students are leaving an early intervention class and have not secured suitable primary specialist provision, the NCSE may re-designate the class. This is done to ensure they can continue with their specialist educational placement at primary level.
Many of the early intervention classes sanctioned to date have been reclassified as the children enrolled reach primary level age. This allows the children to remain in the class at the school they attended for early intervention. However, this it is not always the case, and some classes continue to enrol a new cohort of children yearly.
A list of all mainstream and special schools is available on my department's website on gov.ie. In addition, a list of schools with special classes; broken by location and class designation is available on the NCSE website: https://ncse.ie/special-classes.
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.
