Special Educational Needs

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Questions (442)

Noel McCarthy

Question:

442. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether schools operating under the block grant scheme are considered to be within the special education teaching (SET) allocation model for the purposes of Circular 0013/2026; if so, the reason such schools have not been allocated SET co-ordination hours in line with other schools within that model; if not, the basis on which they are considered outside the model, given that Circular 0014/2017 explicitly includes schools in the free education scheme and the block grant scheme within the special education allocation framework; whether her Department intends to review such a position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33063/26]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

This government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.

The Special Education Teaching (SET) coordination hours advised in Circular 0013/2026 applies to schools that are within the SET allocation model.

This means that the SET coordination hours circular only applies to mainstream classes in post primary schools who are also part of the SET allocation model. The allocation is based pro-rata on schools who receive SET allocation as derived from the SET model.

It is important to emphasise that as Circular 0013/2026 outlines, all post primary schools who are in receipt of special education teaching hours have been allocated coordination hours. The coordination hours are intended to support those schools who are part of the SET allocation model.

The SET allocation model is a distribution model to ensure that the children with the greatest level of need in mainstream can get access to additional teaching support. It provides a transparent means of allocating SET resources to best meet the needs of children and to ensure consistency and equity in the system.

My department and the National Council for Special Education 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.