2025-04-08

113. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the steps taken in Cork county and city to ensure all children who require a place have the possibility of securing a place in a special class or special school for the next academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17159/25]

This question is to ask the Minister the steps taken in Cork county and city to ensure all children who require a place have the possibility of securing a place in a special class or a special school for the next academic year. We have this problem every year with mainstream school places across the suburban area of Cork, but we have a particular pinch point this year with special school places. This is not something we envisaged two and a half years ago when we had the previous crisis and Carrigaline special school was opened, but we seem to be back here again at square one.

I thank the Deputy for the question. I also thank him for the work he does in this sector and the support he has given me since I took up this role. I greatly appreciate it. The majority of children with special educational needs are supported by mainstream classroom teachers, special education teachers and SNAs to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children have more complex needs, a special class or special school place needs to be provided. There are 2,700 new places being created and there are more than 1,200 places already in existing special classes and schools. There are close to 4,000 places available for the coming school year. There is a significant level of provision. The Department and NCSE have created the significant capacity for children whose parents and schools have identified to them as requiring a place. The NCSE has sanctioned more than 390 special classes to date and is working on actively engaging with other schools and school patron bodies to confirm additional special classes as soon as possible. Of these, 53 are in Cork, 35 at primary level and 18 at post-primary level. This will add to the 563 special classes currently in operation in County Cork. The NCSE advises that there are vacant places in a number of special classes across County Cork as well that are available to students for the forthcoming school year. Of the 16 special schools with approximately 1,060 students enrolled, three were established in the past five years. One of the new special schools for next September will be located in the north of Cork city. It is expected this school will open for enrolment shortly. It will initially enrol 24 students. The site of the school, as the Deputy will be well aware, is at the former primary school at Carrignavar but due to building works, the school will open temporarily in available school accommodation in Fermoy, which means that the school can open on 1 September. My Department is working with school patron bodies, particularly Cork ETB, to expand capacity at other schools, particularly those that opened in recent years, namely, Rochestown Community Special School and East Cork Community Special School.

Tá an t-am caite, a Aire Stáit.

This will offer over 70 additional special school places in addition to the new capacity created in the new special school in north Cork.

I am sorry to say that the time for questions is imithe.

That is ridiculous. I drove three hours up the road to listen and so I could come in on this.

Can we have a few seconds?

No, the time has elapsed for the questions. We are on to Topical Issues. I am sorry. I hope Deputy O'Sullivan got his answer.

If he did, I did not hear it. There are 97 children in Cork with no place for September-----

Sorry Deputy Gould, we are finished. Please.

Carrignavar is only over the road. Irish Water has not been able to get a drop of water out there since-----

Deputy, please.

That is not me saying it; that is the EPA saying it. There is no way that school is going to be open.

Ciúnas. Tá an t-am caite.

The Minister of State is coming in here telling people a school will be open but it will not be.

Deputy Gould, please. We are not going to have a debate across the floor.

In fairness, if the Deputy had listened to what I said, he would know that is not what I said.

Okay, go raibh maith agat.

We are deadly serious about making sure there are special places and special schools open in Cork-----

There are ten houses built in Carrignavar that cannot be connected to the water-----

Deputy, please. You are not listening. We are going to have Topical Issues.

-----and you are talking about opening a school.

Deputy, tá an t-am caite. We are moving on to Topical Issues.