Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 December 2025
482. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Education and Youth to provide a breakdown of the number of special education classes, by county and by primary or secondary education, in each of the years 2020 to 2025. [73839/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which advocates that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
Through the accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places over recent years, there are now over 30,000 students enrolled in special classes and special schools. 2,700 new places were created for the 2025/26 school year and these, together with the over 1,200 existing places due to students moving on from primary schools and post-primary schools, has meant that close to 4,000 specialist places were made available for the 2025/26 school year.
A list of all mainstream and special schools is available on my department's website on www.gov.ie. In addition, a list of schools with special classes; broken by year, location and class designation is available on the NCSE website at:ncse.ie/special-classes
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.
