Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2026
84. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Youth the way in which her Department is coordinating with the Department of Children, Disability and Equality to ensure sufficient school places and in-school supports for children with additional needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13251/26]
View answerEnabling 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.
The Department of Children, Disability and Equality shares aggregated anonymised data with my department on the numbers of children in services who have availed of Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) level 7 supports through the Early Childhood Care and Education Programme (ECCE) programme. This data sharing has provided insights to the NCSE to help prepare and plan the appropriate provision required in local areas for children transitioning into primary school.
Further engagement continues regarding the provision of relevant data on individual children from the early years sector to the NCSE. It is envisioned that this data could enable the NCSE to improve its forward planning. Work is ongoing between the Department of Children, Disability and Equality and the NCSE to put in place a data sharing agreement that will enable improved transfer of centrally held relevant data on individual children that will enable the NCSE to improve its forward planning to provide supports to these children when transitioning to primary school.
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. 432 have been sanctioned to date and more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Schools seeking to establish new special classes should continue to engage with the NCSE at local level.
The earlier sanctioning of new classes provides clarity for parents and allows schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. The vast majority of new special classes being announced are being provided in available school accommodation which is being reconfigured as a special class. Each special class at primary level is allocated 1 teacher and 2 SNAs and at post-primary level, schools receive 1.5 teachers and 2 SNAs.
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.
