264. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Education and Youth the options open to a person (details supplied) to ensure an appropriate school place for their child for September 2027;. [75072/26]

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.

The NCSE has advised that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) is working closely with the student’s family regarding options for school placements and other special education supports.

In order to support the NCSE and forward planning my department published Circular 0063/2026. This circular informs school management and patrons of measures introduced to support forward planning and reiterates the need for parents to inform the NCSE through the Parent Notify process that they are seeking a special educational placement for their child.

This notification process will provide the NCSE with critical information on children who continue to need a special class as they progress to post-primary level as well as details on students who require a place for the first time.

This year to facilitate earlier sanctioning of classes for the 2027/28 school year, an earlier date of 1 September was set for parents with necessary documentation to be provided by 15 September 2026 or as soon as is reasonably practicable thereafter. The Parents Notify process provides the NCSE and the department with the information for the potential need for specialist placements in working with schools to forward plan for special education provision.

The NCSE will continue to engage with parents/guardians and schools to ensure all of the relevant information is provided as quickly as possible to facilitate comprehensive forward planning.

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.

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.