Special Educational Needs

Tuesday, 21 April 2026

Ceisteanna (499)

Mark Wall

Ceist:

499. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the redesignation of an early intervention class for a school in County Kildare (details supplied). [28301/26]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth

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.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body responsible for the provision of special education and allocating supports for students with special educational needs.

As your question relates to a specific school, my department will ask the NCSE to consider the matter and provide a direct reply. Deputies are also welcome to raise such matters with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas email address.

The NCSE in collaboration with the Department of Education and Youth may re-designate an early year’s class to a primary age class where there is verified demand for increased special class provision in the locality. Whilst all stakeholders are agreed on the value of early intervention, the NCSE must consider the legislative requirement for children over six to attend school.

The NCSE work closely with the department to ensure we explore all viable options in increasing such provision to meet the local need. In some areas, where students are leaving an early intervention class and have not secured suitable primary specialist provision, the NCSE may re-designate the class. This is done to ensure they can continue with their specialist educational placement at primary level.

Many of the early intervention classes sanctioned to date have been reclassified as the children enrolled reach primary level age. This allows the children to remain in the class at the school they attended for early intervention. However, this it is not always the case, and some classes continue to enrol a new cohort of children yearly.

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 achieve their full potential.