473. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education and Youth if a school (details supplied) has been approved for a ‘special class for autistic learners’ in September 2026; and to provide assurance to the school that the new class will go ahead as scheduled. [21557/26]

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.

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. 387 have been sanctioned to date and many more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks. The earlier sanctioning of new classes provides clarity for parents and allows schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. The vast majority of new special classes being announced are being provided in available school accommodation which is being reconfigured as a special class. Each special class at primary level is allocated 1 teacher and 2 SNAs and at post-primary level, schools receive 1.5 teachers and 2 SNAs. Details of the new special classes are available on the NCSE website.

Of the 387 new special classes, 256 are being established in primary schools and 131 in post-primary schools. New special classes are being established in every county with 17 new special classes confirmed for Kerry so far, one of which is the school referred to by the Deputy. Further details on additional new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements remain available for students with special educational needs and will continue to review and monitor the situation as to where new specialist provision is required.