Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 January 2026
78. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special school places in each primary and secondary school in Dublin 2, 4 and 6; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6911/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis government is fully committed to supporting students 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) is the national agency with responsibility for the provision of special education places. For the 2025/26 school year the NCSE sanctioned 406 new special classes bringing to 3,741 the number of special classes in our schools. Combined with 300 new special school places this has created 2,700 new school places for students with special educational needs.
My department and the NCSE continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026/2027. NCSE have begun sanctioning new special classes this month, which is several months ahead of last year. 263 have been sanctioned to date and many more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The earlier sanctioning of new classes provides clarity for parents and allows schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. The vast majority of new special classes being announced are being provided in available school accommodation which is being reconfigured as a special class. Each special class at primary level is allocated 1 teacher and 2 SNAs and at post-primary level, schools receive 1.5 teachers and 2 SNAs. Details of the new special classes along with previous years are available on the NCSE website broken down by county and type of class.
Of the 263 new special classes, 173 are being established in primary schools and 90 in post-primary schools. New special classes are being established in every county with 58 new special classes confirmed for Dublin so far. Further details on additional new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
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.
