Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2025
455. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Department has conducted any review of the consistency of NCSE decisions across counties, with specific reference to Cork; and if she will publish the results of any such review. [64996/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for children with special educational needs.
My department works closely with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. Building on successive budgets, Budget 2025 secured funding for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, and an additional 300 special school places for the 2025/26 school year. Together this has delivered 2,700 new places. For the 2026/27 school year an additional 3,000 new specialist places will be provided.
My department and the NCSE identify the need for special educational provision with consideration to demographical and statistical data and in regard to an areas existing school provision and future capability. In addition, part of the forward planning process as to where new classes, schools or expansion is required looks at how far students are travelling to access an education appropriate to their needs. This is an important factor which has been incorporated into the decision-making process. Consideration is also given to the information the NCSE hold at local level on the number of children seeking a special school place in a region.
In order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning 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 was set for parents to do so.
This notification process will provide the NCSE with valuable information 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 NCSE is currently collating the data and information received by 1 October through the parents notify process and are engaging with schools regarding where specialist provision is best placed for the 2026/27 school year. It is envisioned that the majority of these special classes will be sanctioned by 31 December 2025.
In recent years, the NCSE has undergone a significant transformational change. This has included a restructuring of the organisation and a 67% increase in its workforce, which combine to provide an increased and responsive support within communities.
At local level, the NCSE has doubled the number of support teams available to parents and schools, throughout the country, from a 10 team structure to a 20 team structure.
All special educational needs organisers (SENO) grades are now assigned on a county basis and undertake caseloads associated with that county only, on a reduced caseload basis.
To support these staff, additional administrative staff have also been allocated and this allows SENOs to concentrate on working directly with schools and families.
This allows for an integrated community-based service which is conducive to the development of key relationships between NCSE staff, parents, and schools in the provision of services to students with special educational needs.
The additional SENOs, additional administrative support and revised caseload allocations contribute to a comprehensive level of localised cover.
This transformational change has been undertaken to ensure that there is a consistency of approach across the country and to ensure that all special education resources allocated by the NCSE is done on a fair, equitable basis on the key premise that the resources are allocated on the basis of identified need.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs and will continue to review and monitor the situation as to where new specialist provision is required.
