Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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221. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to open a special school in the Citywest area of Dublin; if so, when this would take place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23839/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The new special schools established over recent years have focused on providing additional places in our largest urban areas: Dublin and Cork. The most recent of these new special schools to open was An Cosán Special School in Dublin 7 which opened earlier this month.

The department and NCSE continue to work on expanding special school capacity for the 2024/25 school year and beyond. In planning for increased special school places, the department and 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.

An important consideration when deciding to establish or expand provision in an existing special school is the distances that some students are travelling in order to access a special school placement.

My department and the NCSE are continually reviewing where additional capacity is required in existing special schools or in what regions a new special school may need to be established over the coming years.

It is estimated that a further 300 new special school places may be required each year for the coming years. When looking to provide additional capacity the department’s preferred option is to increase provision in existing special schools if possible.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the national list of SNAs can be released in a more efficient and transparent manner in view of the fact that persons are left wondering if they will have a job for the new school term; and if she will engage with the NCSE on this matter urgently. [23845/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

Special needs assistant (SNA) allocations for the 2024/2025 school year are presently being developed by the department and will be advised to schools as soon as possible and in line with previous years’ timelines.

My department allocated 1,194 additional SNAs to schools in the past year and Budget 2024 provides for a further 1,216. These SNAs will be allocated as follows: 806 to support students in new special classes, 150 to support students in new special school places and 260 to support students in mainstream classes.

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 reach their full potential.