173. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Education to provide any detail available on the recent announcement concerning the intention to establish a new special school in County Tipperary; if it will be a new build or the upgrading of an existing one; the capacity needs upon which this decision is being taken; the anticipated capacity of such a school; the location or area of Tipperary it is earmarked for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43684/24]

176. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the amount of funding provided in Budget 2025 towards the provision of a special school in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43687/24]

177. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to the announced approval of a special school in County Monaghan, the location proposed for the school; the date of opening; the number of children that will be facilitated in the school upon opening; the numbers of staff and each staff role that will be provided at the school upon opening; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43688/24]

178. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to the announced approval of a special school in County Monaghan, the criteria that will be applied for successful applicants; if she can assure that the school will accept applications relating to all children with profound special needs including those with autism and those without autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43689/24]

179. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education the process that determined Monaghan would be allocated a special school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43690/24]

180. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Education further to the announced approval of a special school in County Monaghan, if the school will be housed in permanent buildings upon opening or if it will be based in temporary units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43691/24]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 173, 176, 177, 178, 179 and 180 together.

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

Over 1,700 new special classes and 11 special schools have been provided in recent years. For this school year alone, over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned with classes provided in every county, and four new special schools have been established.

There has been a strong emphasis on forward planning, and just last week Minster Foley and I announced that another five special schools will be established for the next school year 2025/26 in counties Cork, Dublin (2), Monaghan and Tipperary. The exact location, size of the schools and other details are currently being worked through.

These schools will provide for children and young people with complex special education needs up to 18 years of age. They are being sanctioned as early as possible as part of advanced forward planning for the next school year to ensure that appropriate placements are available where needed to meet the needs of students with special educational needs.

The announcement of these schools is a significant step forward. I know there has been a strong demand in Monaghan in particular for the county’s first special school. Part of the forward planning process looks at how far students are travelling to access an education appropriate to their needs. This is an important factor which has been incorporated into the decision making process. In addition, information held on the department's Geographical Information System (GIS), particularly in relation to student demographics and other statistical data also forms part of the process. NCSE knowledge of the need for special school places at local level is a key element also.

The early announcement of the new schools is an important milestone because it allows more time for the planning of school admissions, recruitment of staff, staff training and completion of necessary building works.

It is envisaged that existing buildings will be repurposed to facilitate the opening of the new special schools for the 2025/26 school year. Further details such as the precise location of the new schools in each county will be confirmed in due course as part of the finalisation of arrangements for the opening of the new special schools.

Dedicated working groups will be established to support the establishment of each of the new special schools.