Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 April 2026
109. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will take steps to ensure that a school (details supplied) is provided with the funding needed for additional autism classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28753/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to the continued accelerated provision of additional special class and special school places for 2026/27.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are the statutory body tasked with sanctioning new special education provision in our schools.
The NCSE has sanctioned 432 new special classes nationally, including 102 new special classes in Dublin, for the next school year 2026/2027 with more to follow in the coming weeks. This is a number of months ahead of last year and provides for greater certainty for families and more time for schools to plan for the establishment of new special classes.
I commend every school, including the school referred to by the Deputy, who express an interest in opening a new special class. As the Deputy knows, I visited the school last year and I know the good work they do in supporting children with additional needs. This school is already supporting three special classes and the focus for my department and the NCSE is working to provide new special classes in medium and larger primary schools with none or just 1 special class.
The school received a new school building comprising 16 mainstream classrooms and 2 class SEN base in 2023. A recently received application for 2 Special education needs modular classrooms under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is currently under consideration. However, as this is a relatively new school building the department would expect the school to prioritise utilisation of all existing capacity in the first instance.
There are resources available to support schools who have children who have needs beyond those catered for within the special classes and I would ask the school to continue to engage with the NCSE on accessing those supports. The NCSE is engaging with parents locally and in the surrounding areas to ensure there is a range of provision available including in Stapolin NS.
My Department and the NCSE will continue to keep the matter under review.
