Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking this question. I realise she is not the Minister of State responsible for this area but, in fairness, she is well aware of the issues we are dealing with when we are specifically talking about kids with disabilities and kids with autism. We know there are huge synergies with her own work and, obviously, the piece of work that needs to be done in respect of schools. I wish to put on the record the response received to a parliamentary question tabled specifically on the matter of provision. It stated that for the 2024-25 school year the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, had sanctioned 18 new special classes to open for September 2024 in County Louth. Of these classes, 14 were at primary level and four at post-primary level. This brings the number of special classes in the county to 101. The majority of these classes are autism classes. I assume the Minister of State will have the information in that regard and be able to tell me whether the new special classes have been delivered.

I recently met with All Abilities Action Alliance Louth. I met some of its members previously in the context of my involvement with the Louth Disability Cycling Club. As the Minister of State is well aware, that club has a huge connection with Kevin O'Brien and Variety. It is one of those really positive initiatives. Families can show up, kids get a service that is enjoyable and it allows families to meet and gather that information. As has often been said, you do not always have that one-stop shop we would all like to see. They can learn from one other.

The members of All Abilities Action Alliance Louth provided me with information. In fairness, this is the way they find it. There are 18 secondary schools in Louth, including two grammar schools, but only nine of these have special needs classes. Put another way, 50% of secondary schools in Louth have no special needs classes at all. I know there are particular issues in respect of schools. Ó Fiaich College, which my own autistic son, Turlough, attends, does not have an autism unit. It has plans but it is constrained by space. I accept that there are particular issues, but we all know we are talking about parents who are under severe pressure.

Reference has been made to Louth having 72 special needs classes, which would cater for 432 children with special needs. Of the nine schools that have special classes, however, one school has four special needs classes, four have three special needs classes, one has two special needs classes and three have only one special needs class. That gives us a total of 21 classes. This is 29% of the target the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, has spoken about. When admission notices from the schools with these 21 classes are examined, the following are the number of places for 2025: two schools have six places each; one school has four places; one school has three places; two schools have two places each; one school has one place, which is for girls only; and two schools have zero places. The Minister of State can see the issue. We know what happens as a result - parents apply all over the place and for everything. The system is still not great.

I have spoken previously about the Education (Amendment) Bill 2024, which I brought froward. It would allow for parents of kids with autism and other disabilities to apply two years beforehand, which would enable schools to ensure they have all the i's dotted and t's crossed and make sure all the services are ready. There is a significant number of issues here and a huge number of parents are under severe pressure. What can be done? I will deal with the school inclusion model in my supplementary question.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy has acknowledged, I am taking this on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton. I stress that enabling students with special educational needs to receive an appropriate education is an absolute priority for the Minister and this Government. It is the Government's priority to ensure all children have an appropriate school placement and the necessary supports are provided to our schools to allow children with special educational needs to flourish and prosper. It is important to highlight that the majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. For children with more complex needs, special classes are provided. For children with the most complex needs, special school places are also provided.

The need for special education is at an all-time high and over a quarter of the education budget is allocated to special education, providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs. This has increased under budget 2025, with almost €2.9 billion allocated, which represents an increase of 6%, or €159 million, on last year’s funding. This funding will deliver up to 2,700 new special educational places, an additional 768 teachers and 1,600 special needs assistants. This will mean we will have more than 44,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

Since 2020, almost 1,700 new special classes have been provided, bringing the total to more than 3,300. Over the same period, 11 new special schools have been opened. Four of these new special schools opened last month in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. More than 400 new special classes have been sanctioned for this school year, with classes provided in every county. Of the new special classes sanctioned for the 2024-25 school year, 16 are in County Louth, with 13 at primary level and three at post-primary level.

This brings the total number of special classes in Louth to 98 - 75 at primary and 23 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these classes are autism classes and have a teacher-student ratio of 1:6.

Statutory responsibility for the provision of additional special education provision lies with the NCSE. The NCSE has progressed the recruitment of additional special education needs organisers, SENOs, team managers and advisers. The number of SENOs increased from 65 to 120 at the start of this school year. The additional staffing will ensure that parents and schools experience an increased level of support and guidance from the NCSE. The NCSE is undertaking some 800 school planning visits in September and October of this school year. These meetings will be key to determining which schools should open new special classes for the next school year 2025-26. The NCSE is particularly focusing on medium to Iarger primary schools which do not yet have a special class, and post-primary schools, to open new special classes. The NCSE will also reach out to families to help and guide them through the range of supports available to meet the needs of their children. It is important for planning purposes that parents engage with the NCSE when seeking special educational placement for their children. The contact details of local special educational needs organisers are available through schools and on the NCSE’s website. That is a valuable point. I am sure the Deputy is aware that we need the NCSE to help carry the burden for the parents as opposed to them applying to a number of schools. The Department of Education and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for all children who require such a placement.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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It seems that those numbers have dropped off from an earlier parliamentary question I asked. We are now talking about 98, which is the figure the group I met were spoken to about, whereas there was a plan for 101. Three classes have now dropped off. I would like to think everything will be done to make sure that is delivered because we are dealing with a lack of provision. I think the Minister of State said it as well in relation to the NCSE and SENOs. I am aware of people doing a huge level of work but we also know that for families this is incredibly stressful. Nobody knows if they will actually get a place. I am also aware of an issue in the last while - a huge amount of people spoke about their kid being autistic with an intellectual disability and they are looking at a number of schools. In some special schools, they fall below the criteria and in others they do not have sufficient difficulties to fall into that school. It adds to problems. I got a call last night about it before I came into the Chamber. The people who spoke to me said there are 24 individual places for the whole county. It is nowhere near the necessary target capacity. There are 75 special needs classes at primary level and 23 and secondary level. It is expected that demand will exceed the current supply of 24 places in 21 classes. That states exactly what the situation is. There is not enough capacity. We must make sure that is delivered.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We are over time now, Deputy.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I also spoke to the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, about Shelagh National School, a primary school, to make sure it has contact. It is about building autism units already planned. That is another issue across the board.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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We will be late starting the next session.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I will bring back the name of Shelagh National School to the Minister of State. The Deputy is a very strong advocate in this space. With the recruitment of the extra NCSEs - doubling numbers - I have no doubt there is provision for a new NCSE to look after the wee county of Louth to ensure there is proper capacity building in primary and post-primary. When you look at the numbers going from national to secondary school, you need to ensure capacity building is taking place. The Department of Education continues to engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to forward planning for new special classes for the 2025-26 school year and future years to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting best fitting their educational need. There are now more than 28,000 children being supported in special schools and classes, with the number of special classes increasing by 100% since the 2019-20 school year.

It is the statutory responsibility of the NCSE to work with schools to provide sufficient special education provision in each class year. Both the NCSE and the Department have held a number of meetings with education stakeholders in relation to the forward planning of special classes and special school places for the 2025-26 school year. As already outlined, budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 new special classes and 300 additional special school places for the school year 2025-26.

It is important to acknowledge the organisation the Deputy met and the wonderful work Louth Cycling Club does and how it is has embraced the trikes from the Variety group. It is brilliant to see on a Saturday morning children with various needs can participate with their peers on an equal basis. That club demonstrates real inclusion and equity for all.

Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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We need to see the school inclusion model across the board so parents can get therapies.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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Thank you.

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Absolutely.