Written answer
Special Educational Needs
The Department and NCSE will continue reviewing Cork’s need for special-school places, preferring expansion of existing schools where possible; no decision on a new school was announced.
162. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on the proposed second-level special school in Cork (details supplied). [73833/26]
Comment on this
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.
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.
The new special schools established over recent years have focused on providing additional places in our largest urban areas – Dublin and Cork.
As you are aware, Minister Naughton and I announced the establishment of 4 new special schools for the 2026/2027 school year. These schools are being established in Balbriggan, CityWest, Bray and Monasterevin. Dedicated working groups including the department, NCSE and relevant patron body continue to meet to support the establishment of the new special schools. These bring to 20 the number of new special schools established in recent years.
In planning for increased special school places, my department and the NCSE review all of the available data on the growing need for special school places across the country. This involves a detailed analysis of enrolment trends and the potential for existing special schools in a region to expand.
Part of the forward planning process as to where new classes, schools or expansion is required looks at how far students are travelling to access an education that meets their needs. This is an important factor which has been incorporated into the decision-making process. Consideration is also given to the information the NCSE hold at local level on the number of children and young people seeking a special school place in a region.
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 in County Cork and indeed nationwide as to where new special schools are required.