1277. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the percentage of special education classes that were sanctioned in the academic year 2025-26 that are open for enrolment for the academic year 2026-27, by designation and county, in tabular form. [62240/26]

1278. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth the percentage of autism classes that were sanctioned in the academic year 2025-26 that are open for enrolment for the academic year 2026-27, in tabular form. [62239/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1277 and 1278 together.

Enabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which promotes that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.

A list of all mainstream and special schools is available on my department's website on gov.ie. A list of schools with special classes; broken by location and class designation is available on the NCSE website: ncse.ie/special-classes

In addition, a breakdown of special classes in mainstream schools by type for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 school years is set out at the following link:

Breakdown of Special Classes

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 2026/27 school year. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes in January of this year, which is several months earlier than last 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.

Of the 587 new special classes, 379 are being established in primary schools and 208 in post-primary schools.

Following the sanction of a special class, the practical arrangements required to open it including staff recruitment and any required minor or major accommodation works are managed directly at school level by the relevant Board of Management and patron body. While most sanctioned classes open for the start of the school year, individual opening timelines can vary depending on local recruitment and building schedules.

NCSE regional teams and planning teams from my department remain in active engagement with school authorities to provide targeted support and facilitate opening as swiftly as possible. The NCSE publishes and regularly updates lists of all sanctioned and operational special classes by county on its website (www.ncse.ie).

The Department is committed to ensuring that all schools comply with the requirements of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 and with the guidance issued by the Department and the NCSE. Schools are required to implement an admissions policy in accordance with the Education Act, 1998 and the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018. The published admission policy sets out the selection criteria for admission to school. The annual admission notice sets out the number of places that are available and the timeline for accepting and processing applications for admission.

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.