Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
134. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the rollout of inclusive special classes and the progress of the Towards Inclusion Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40751/26]
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.
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.
546 new special classes have been sanctioned to date, including 47 inclusive special classes. Further new special classes expect to be confirmed in the coming weeks. Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website.
Forty-seven inclusive special classes have been sanctioned as part of a new approach to supporting students with additional needs. This builds on good practice that helps students with additional needs learn alongside other students in mainstream classes, while also having time during the day to receive extra support in a special class. It formalises good practices already in place in many schools and aligns with national policy developments on inclusive education.
The "Towards Inclusion" (TI) pilot programme, funded through the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF), is an initiative involving a number of special schools working in partnership with a mainstream school aimed at fostering inclusive educational practices through collaborative efforts between neighbouring institutions. The programme is managed by the NCSE on behalf of the Department.
The TI pilot programme began in 2024, 24 schools (12 special schools and 12 mainstream schools) participated in the pilot completing a wide range of projects across the curriculum. These schools were invited to continue or expand their projects in 2025. In addition to these schools, a further 26 Special Schools partnering with a mainstream school were invited to participate in 2026 bringing the total number of clusters to 38 (76 schools in total).
An application for funding under DAF 2027 to extend the pilot to an additional 40 schools is currently being prepared by my officials.
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.
