Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
505. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason she is redesignating special schools that cater for children with learning disabilities; the supports that will be made available to students with learning disabilities who are forced to attend mainstream schools due to a lack of spaces; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14342/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra507. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Education and Youth the reason her Department decided to redesignate students with learning disabilities from special needs schools to mainstream schools; the number of special school places that have been revoked; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14344/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 505 and 507 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.
Over 300 new special school places were provided for the 2025/26 school year. Five new special schools were established in addition to the eleven new special schools opened over the last few years. Special school capacity is also being expanded across a number of special schools.
It’s important to note that it is not the intention to exclude children and young people who require a special school place from accessing certain special school settings, but rather allow students with complex educational needs apply to their local special school. Currently, there are instances whereby students with complex needs cannot apply for admission to their local special school simply because they don’t meet the narrow designation of that special school. In that regard, along with providing additional special school capacity, my department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) consider that it is necessary to look at the profile of our existing special schools.
This is not a new departure. The NCSE report that over half of mild general learning disability (MGLD) special schools have diversified to allow students with more complex needs in their communities who require a special school setting enrol in their local special school. I wish to thank schools who have worked with us to broaden their designation and my department will continue to support schools in this endeavour so that more special schools can better support students with complex needs in their local community.
There are approximately 30 of our 129 special schools that were originally designated as schools for students with a MGLD. The establishment of these special schools predated the significant expansion in the range of supports offered in mainstream schools through additional special education teaching and special needs assistant resources and through the rapid expansion in special class provision.
It is noted that many of the students enrolling in MGLD special school do so around the transition point from primary to post-primary. The new senior cycle level 1 and level 2 programmes offers a new curriculum pathway for students with special educational needs at post-primary level now also.
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.
