Naoise Ó Muirí
Ceist:465. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [71930/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 16 December 2025
Ceisteanna (465)
Freagraí scríofa
Work by my department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to plan for the provision of further new special class and special school places for the 2026/27 school year and beyond is progressing.
As you are aware parents were asked to notify the NCSE of their requirement for a special educational placement for the 2026/27 school year by 1 October 2025. The NCSE is undertaking analysis of information provided through the Parents Notify process to plot demand for special class places for the 2026/27 school year. The NCSE will also consider vacant places in existing special classes and places that will become available through the regular transition of children from primary to post-primary schools. Once this analysis is completed the NCSE will be equipped to engage with schools to open new special classes in relevant areas. It is expected that these special classes will be sanctioned in the coming weeks.
The NCSE will assess what additional provision is required in local areas and what schools have capacity to accommodate required provision. In order to ensure new special classes can open as quickly as possible the NCSE prioritise working with medium and larger primary schools who do not already have a special class and have available accommodation to accommodate new special class. This approach maximises the use of existing space which can be reconfigured efficiently while also ensuring that new provision continues to be established. It also increases number of schools with special classes providing parents with greater choice and 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 will also have due regard to any vacant places in existing special classes in an area and any places that will be become available through the normal movement of children leaving primary or post-primary school.
The school referred to by the Deputy already has 3 special classes and any school willing to open further new special classes is to be commended. I can confirm that a request to meet with this school has been received by my office and remains under consideration.
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 assess the requirement for new specialist provision.