Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
111. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to the need for a second special school in the Dublin west area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40381/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth to report on the provision of additional needs education places in the Dublin west area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40385/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 123 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.
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.
Four new special schools were recently announced by Ministers Naughton and Moynihan to be established in Balbriggan, CityWest, Bray and Monasterevin. Dedicated working groups including the Department, the NCSE and relevant patron body continue to meet to support the establishment of the new special schools. It is expected that details in relation to the admissions process and number of places will be confirmed shortly. The NCSE will continue to advise parents at local level on developments.
When looking to provide additional capacity the department’s preferred option is to increase provision in existing special schools if possible. Where this is not possible in a region, the department and NCSE will consider the need to establish a new special school.
In planning for increased special school places, my department and the NCSE review all of the available data on the growing need for special school places across the country. This involves a detailed analysis of enrolment trends and the potential for existing special schools in a region to expand.
Part of the forward planning process as to where new classes, schools or expansion is required looks at how far students are travelling to access an education that meets their needs. This is an important factor which has been incorporated into the decision-making process. Consideration is also given to the information the NCSE hold at local level on the number of children and young people seeking a special school place in a region.
My department and the NCSE continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026/2027. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes in January of this year, which is several months earlier than last year.
In addition, I recently announced inclusive special classes as part of a new approach to supporting students with additional needs. This is one of many ways my department is actively engaging to meet the increased demand.
546 new special classes have been sanctioned to date, including 47 inclusive special classes. Further new special classes are expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks. Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website.
Of the 546 new special classes, 355 are being established in primary schools and 191 in post-primary schools. New special classes are being established in every county with 128 new special classes confirmed for Dublin so far.
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.
