I propose to take Questions Nos. 449 and 450 together.
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 National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
The NCSE in its statutory capacity is responsible for the processing of details relating to individual students. The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need. As part of forward planning, parents are now requested to notify the NCSE directly where a child or young person requires a special class or special school place. The NCSE can advise and support families to access suitable local placements and can use this information to plan and sanction new special classes as required.
The department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools and students with special educational needs in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an appropriate education. This includes special classes and special schools designated for children with mild, moderate, and severe or profound learning disabilities.
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 class and special school places are provided. This includes special classes and special schools designated for children with mild, moderate, and severe or profound learning disabilities.
In order to access these classes the student must have a professional report or recommendation stating a need for this level of support. A diagnosis for a condition such as Down Syndrome is not required.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that no matter where a child is enrolled they have access to the required supports to enable them to achieve their educational goals.
Demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
In October 2022, my department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school. Last year my department issued a circular to all schools setting out new measures to support the forward planning of special education provision. Included in this circular was a reminder of the need for post-primary schools to continue planning for this level of provision.
In addition, in order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department recently published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of new measures introduced to support forward planning going forward and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child. An earlier date of 1 October has been set in which parents must do so. This notification will provide the NCSE with valuable insights as to which children will continue to require a special class as they progress to post primary level and details on students who require a place for the first time.
The earlier date will also allow for earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year and it is aim of the NCSE to sanction the majority of new special by 31 December 2025.
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 reach their full potential.
