Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2026
320. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the schedule of special education classes to come; the number of classes; and the way in which the data collected by the NCSE been reflected in future announcements. [11583/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is important to remember that the majority of children and young people with special educational needs are supported by their classroom teacher, special education teachers and SNAs to attend mainstream classes with their peers.
Where students have more complex needs a special class can be provided and for students with the most complex needs a special school place can be provided.
The Government is committed to the continued accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places for the 2026/27 school by providing at least 3,000 new places in locations where it best meets existing and future demand.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body tasked with sanctioning new special education provision in our schools.
Budget 2026 provides funding for over 400 new special classes and at least 400 new special school places for the 2026/2027 school year.
My department and the NCSE have worked closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to ensure that new special classes for the next school year are confirmed earlier.
The NCSE has sanctioned 301 special classes this year with more planned in the coming weeks. Careful consideration is given to the local level of need and the ability of schools in the area to open new special classes. My department and the NCSE consider the level of need by local school planning areas. There are 314 local school planning areas. A key focus is working to establish new special classes in large and medium primary schools with none or just 1 special class and in post-primary schools with no special class.
The sanctioning of these new special classes is a number of months ahead of last year and should provide greater clarity for parents. It will also provide schools with more time to establish new classes.
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 through the Parent Notify process that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child.
The information coming to the NCSE is a key element of planning for further special class and special school provision.
The NCSE remains available to provide advice and support to all families seeking specialist placement and will continue to examine where provision is required for the 2026/27 school year.
Further information on more new special classes and increased special school capacity, including plans to establish new special schools, will be confirmed very shortly.
