Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 June 2026
175. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will provide for a SENCO post in schools considering the significant workload involved in managing growing needs profiles in communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48100/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis government is fully committed to supporting children with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
Allocations of special education teaching (SET) posts for the school year 2026/27 have been provided to schools. The NCSE has also published SET allocations on their website www.ncse.ie/ncse/data-and-statistics/set-hours-special-class-teachers-and-sna-allocations/. For easy of reference this allocation is broken down by school type and county.
The SET guidelines published on Gov.ie outlined that principals are required to allow time, from within this allocation for the special education teacher(s) for information gathering and assessment, reviewing, monitoring and coordinating provision for children with special educational needs. This would include transition planning for the identified students.
In the case of a post primary school additional SET coordination hours are provided to each school within the free education system. This is provided as multiple subject teachers are required to input to the student support file planning process. This is to ensure that a complete profile of need, across all subjects, of a pupil with special education needs is identified and recorded in the individual student support plan.
The Government is committed to considering what additional supports and resources are required in the area of special education in the upcoming Budget. We will continue to engage through the estimates process to ensure that no matter where a child is enrolled, they are actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
