Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 June 2025
604. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of children projected to transition into special classes in post primary over the next ten years, broken down by county and type of special class, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29877/25]
View answer622. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of primary special class places opening up each year for the next five years as a result of children transitioning to post-primary by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29907/25]
View answer623. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of post-primary special class places opening up each year for the next five years as a result of children graduating secondary school, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29908/25]
View answer687. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Education and Youth the work her Department is undertaking to map the number of children who will be enrolling in post-primary school in the next five years with special education needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30579/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 604, 622, 623 and 687 together.
This 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. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs.
My department and the NCSE engage on a weekly basis in relation to the forward planning of special class and special school provision to meet the present, and future need, of children with special educational needs.?
It is expected that a similar number of special class and special school places may need to be provided over each of the next few years, that was provided in recent years. As more and more special classes open in primary schools and as the overall level of enrolments at primary level reduce, it is expected that over time the normal annual progression of students from primary special classes to post-primary will provide a significant number of places each year for younger children seeking a special class placement. At post-primary level, my department has already written to all schools asking them to prepare to provide on average four special classes each.
In order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department recently published Circular 0039/2025. This circular informs school management and patrons of new measures introduced to support forward planning going forward and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child. An earlier date of 1 October has been set in which parents must do so. This notification will provide the NCSE with valuable insights as to which children will continue to require a special class as they progress to post primary level and details on students who require a place for the first time. The earlier date will also allow for earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2026/27 school year and it is aim of the NCSE to sanction the majority of new special by 31 December 2025.
Demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
In October 2022, my department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school. Last year my department issued a circular to all schools setting out new measures to support the forward planning of special education provision. Included in this circular was a reminder of the need for post-primary schools to continue planning for this level of provision.
The NCSE is currently examining where new provision is best located for the 2026/27 school year.
My Department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for children with special educational needs.
