Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2025
381. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth if capital funding will be provided to a school (details supplied), to provide ASD classes in the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31817/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis 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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
My department's planning and building unit continue to engage with the school to progress the application for the provision of additional accommodation at the school.
Of the 400 new special classes places provided for in Budget 2025, the NCSE has advised that 399 of these classes have been sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year. Of these 53 are in County Cork, 35 at primary and 18 at post primary level.
This will add to the 563 special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 16 special schools in County Cork with approximately 1,060 students enrolled. One of the five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year will open in the North of the City also. My department and the NCSE are also working with Cork Education and Training Board to expand capacity at both Rochestown Community Special School and East Cork Community Special School.
This year the NCSE focused on medium and larger primary schools with available accommodation and no existing special class to open a new special class for the 2025/26 school year.?This will ensure that classes can open quickly as existing accommodation can be reconfigured in a more streamlined and efficient manner but also that new provision is established in as many schools as possible. This provides parents more options when deciding which schools to apply to and ensures that provision continues to grow in a diverse number of schools across regions.?This should also help in reducing the distances that some children are travelling to access a special class place.
However, as in other years where schools have no available accommodation, particularly at post-primary level and there is known demand in a local area, my department will continue to provide additional classroom accommodation to provide necessary places.
The NCSE has begun planning for the 2026/27 school year and will shortly be making school visits to examine which schools are best suited to meet demand for the 2026/27 school year. The NCSE will again focus on sanctioning classes in schools with available accommodation. My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.
