Special Educational Needs

Tuesday, 14 April 2026

Questions (1369, 1370)

Johnny Guirke

Question:

1369. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of ASD classrooms there are currently in primary schools in County Meath. [25252/26]

View answer

Johnny Guirke

Question:

1370. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of ASD classrooms there are currently in post primary schools in County Meath. [25253/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1369 and 1370 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.

Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now over 30,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places were created for the 2025/26 school year and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places due to students moving on from primary schools and post-primary schools, has meant that close to 4,000 specialist places were made available for the 2025/26 school year.

406 new special classes were sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 21 are in County Meath, 16 at primary and 5 at post-primary level.

This brings to 177 the number of special classes currently in operation in Meath for the 2025/26 school year, 132 at primary and 45 at post-primary level

My department and the NCSE continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026/2027. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes in January of this year, which is several months earlier than last year. 387 have been sanctioned to date and many more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks. 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 achieve their full potential.

Question No. 1370 answered with Question No. 1369.