The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs with regard to policy and best practices as laid out by my department.
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. 464 new special classes have been sanctioned to date, of which 11 are inclusive special classes. Further details on additional new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The information held on the department's Geographical Information System (GIS), particularly in relation to student demographics, is a key component when forecasting the need for additional special class and special school places. My department and the NCSE have undertaken analysis of the trends in special class and special school provision over recent years by county and local school planning area. In total there are 314 local school planning areas.
My department and the NCSE identify the need for special educational provision with consideration to demographical and statistical data and in regard to an areas 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.
Departmental policy is that special education provision should be made in State funded recognised schools (free-scheme schools) in the first instance. It is only where there is insufficient capacity in free scheme schools that the NCSE will engage with fee charging schools in order to provide special classes. It is however recognised that in certain school planning areas, the NCSE may need to consider engaging with fee-charging schools in relation to the provision of special classes for the 2026/27 school year and beyond.
There are approximately 50 fee-charging post-primary schools nationwide. Of these, one school has two special classes. These were sanctioned for opening as it was considered that there was insufficient provision in free scheme schools to meet the special educational needs of students in the local area.
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.
