Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
393. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will list the location and number of autism classes attached to secondary schools in the Dublin 1 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32444/26]
View answer394. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth the location and number of autism classes attached to secondary schools in the Dublin 3 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32445/26]
View answer395. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Education and Youth the location and number of autism classes attached to secondary schools in the Dublin 7 area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32446/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 393 to 395, inclusive, together.
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.
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's website.
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.
Of the 464 new special classes, 305 are being established in primary schools and 159 in post-primary schools. New special classes are being established in every county with 105 new special classes confirmed for Dublin so far, of which 31 are being established at post-primary level.
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.
