Pat Buckley
Ceist:437. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if she will intervene in the case of a child (details supplied) and allocate them a place in an early intervention class. [15823/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 1 April 2025
Ceisteanna (437)
Freagraí scríofa
Enabling children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
As your query refers to an individual placement, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now just over 28,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. Budget 2025 provides for an additional 2,700 specialist places, made up of 400 new special class and 300 additional special school places. On top of this, there will be over 1,000 places available through the normal annual movement of students progressing from primary to post-primary and students graduating from post-primary or special schools. There also remains special class vacancies in some areas of the country.
Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 352 of these classes have already been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 51 are in County Cork, 33 at primary and 18 at post primary level.
There are 614 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 16 special schools in Cork with approximately 1,000 students enrolled. One of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in North Cork. This school will open for enrolment shortly.
In County Cork and indeed nationwide, the NCSE continue to engage intensely with schools and school patron bodies to confirm further classes. As the NCSE progress the sanctioning of the remaining special classes they will inform parents.
Where new special classes have been sanctioned, I would urge schools to progress the admission of students as soon as possible to ensure that the NCSE can continue to evaluate demand in local areas, sanction classes as required and assist parents in securing a school place.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local SENOs are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.