Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
247. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of special education places at each primary and second level school in County Wexford and County Wicklow, in tabular form. [8986/26]
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.
Of the 406 new special classes sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year 16 are in County Wexford, 13 at primary and 3 at post-primary level. This brings to 135 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county.
Of the 406 new special classes sanctioned for the 2025/26 school year 12 are in County Wicklow, 7 at primary and 5 at post-primary level. This brings to 132 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county.
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. The NCSE has 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 are available on the NCSE website.
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.
