1241. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth of the children in Cork who were issued with a letter of eligibility for a special school placement for the 2026-27 school year, the number who remained without a place at the start of the 2026-27 school year. [61615/26]

1242. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of places for pupils available and allocated in special schools in Cork for the 2026-27 school year, broken down by primary and post-primary age groups. [61614/26]

1244. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of letters of eligibility for special school placement issued by the NCSE in Cork for the 2026-27 school year, broken down by primary and post-primary age groups. [61612/26]

1334. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of letters of eligibility for special school placement issued by the NCSE in Cork for the 2026-27 school year, broken down by primary and post-primary age groups. [62669/26]

1335. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of places for pupils available and allocated in special schools in Cork for the 2026-27 school year, broken down by primary and post-primary age groups. [62670/26]

1337. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education and Youth the number of the children in Cork who were issued with a letter of eligibility for a special school placement for the 2026-27 school year; and the number without a place by the start of the 2026-27 school year. [62671/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1241, 1242, 1244, 1334, 1335 and 1337 together.

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 have worked closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the 2026/27 school year. 587 new special classes have been sanctioned to date, including 70 inclusive special classes. This brings the total number of special classes sanctioned to date to over 4,300. The need for specialist provision remains under review and further new special classes may be confirmed in the coming weeks.

587 new special classes have been sanctioned to date for the 2026/27 school year. Of these 70 are in County Cork, 42 at primary and 28 at post-primary level. This brings to 686 the number of special classes currently in operation in the county. There are also 17 special schools in County Cork with an estimated enrolment of 1,128.

The NCSE is, in the first instance, the primary body responsible for the matter the Deputy has raised. I will arrange for your query to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. Deputies are also welcome to raise such queries with the NCSE directly through their dedicated Oireachtas email address.

There continues to be an increasing need to provide additional special school places to support students with complex needs. When looking to provide additional capacity the department’s preferred option is to increase provision in existing special schools if possible. Where this is not possible in a region, the department and NCSE will consider the need to establish a new special school.

In planning for increased special school places, my department and the NCSE review all available data on the need for special school places across the country. This involves a detailed analysis of enrolment trends and the potential for existing special schools to expand.

It is the responsibility of the managerial authorities of all schools to implement an admissions policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018.

Under the provisions of this act, all schools are required to have admissions policies which have been approved by the patron following consultation with staff and parents of students who are attending the school. It is a key requirement of the act that all school admission policies are fair and transparent.

Parents may apply to enrol their child in a school of their choosing and where the school has places available for the relevant year, the student should be admitted. However, in schools where there are more applicants than places available, a selection process is necessary. This selection process and the enrolment policy on which it is based must be non-discriminatory and must be applied fairly in respect of all applicants. Nonetheless, it may result in some students not obtaining a place in their first choice of school.

My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to achieve their full potential.