Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
670. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason letters of eligibility for young people with special educational needs are tied to the 1 October date given assessments occur all year; if she is aware that this new process is causing distress to parents; if she plans to review the process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12419/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra671. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she is aware there are currently young people in Dublin mid-west with diagnoses who are precluded from applying for a school place as a consequence of the 1 October cut-off date for eligibility letters; if she is aware there are also young people with diagnoses and offers of long-awaited school places in appropriate settings, who are unable to accept the place as a direct consequence of the eligibility letter cut-off date; if she will provide guidance to parents in navigating this situation; if commitments available in such cases regarding appropriate school places for the next school year given these situations are not the fault of the parents or children with disabilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12420/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra672. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the available supports and the route for access for the supports available for educational provision to young people with special educational needs who cannot secure appropriate school places due to not having a letter of eligibility; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12421/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 670, 671 and 672 together.
This 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.
In order to support the National Council for Special Education (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.
This year to facilitate earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year, an earlier date of 1 October was set for parents to complete the process.
The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes last month, which is several months earlier than last year. 301 have been sanctioned to date and many more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
The NCSE has advised my department of an increasing number of children and young people who have come to their attention since the 1 October timeline. In response my department and the NCSE have worked on proposals to address the needs of children and young people coming forward to the NCSE after 1 October. I am pleased to say that my department is confirming that the NCSE are now in a position to issue letters of eligibility to children and young people who have made contact with them after the 1 October timeline and who meet the criteria for a special class or special school placement. The NCSE has commenced this process.
Each school prepares and publishes their own admissions policy and runs their own admissions process in line with the Admissions Act. Individual schools will determine the outcome of applications received by them in accordance with their own admissions policy and procedures. I want to reassure families that they will be supported in seeking a placement and that no child or young person should be prevented from starting school. There are a wide range of supports in mainstream classes, special classes and special schools for children and young people with additional needs.
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.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for students with special educational needs and will continue to review and monitor the situation as to where new specialist provision is required.
