344. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Youth if her attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied); and if she will instruct her Department to take action to ensure that these children continue to have access to education [53575/26]

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 majority of students with special education needs in this country are supported by their classroom teachers, special education teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to attend mainstream classes with their peers. This is considered the most inclusive environment for students with special education needs and ensures that students can attend their local school. My department has significantly increased the resources available to support students with special educational needs in mainstream provision with 15,000 special education teachers and over 12,500 SNAs.

Where students have more complex needs a special class or special school is provided. What is important here is that students have access to a placement that is appropriate to their needs and that is why in October 2024, my department issued a circular letter to all schools setting out a range of new measures to support the forward planning of special education.

My department and the National Council for Special Education (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.

584 new special classes have been sanctioned to date, including 68 inclusive special classes. This brings the total number of special classes sanctioned to date to over 4,300. Of the 584 new special classes, 378 are being established in primary schools and 206 in post-primary schools. Further new special classes may be confirmed in the coming weeks, if required.

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.

Matters in relation to registration with Tusla should be referred to my colleague the Minister for Children Disability and Equality.

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.