Minister for Education and Youth statement on Special Education Places for the 2026/27 year

The Minister states:

Budget 2026 provides funding for 3,000 new special educational places within our education system for the 2026/27 school year. As the number of special classes and special schools continue to grow, there is also additional capacity created each year through the natural movement of children from primary to post primary, leaving post primary and with vacancies in individual classes.

In order to ensure new special classes can open as quickly as possible the National Council for special Education (NCSE) and my department are prioritising working with medium and larger primary schools who do not already have a special class and have available accommodation to accommodate a new special class and post-primary schools with none or just one special class. This approach maximises the use of existing space which can be reconfigured efficiently while also ensuring that new provision continues to be established. It also increases the number of schools with special classes providing parents with greater choice and reducing the distances that some students are travelling to access a special class place.

My department and the NCSE have also had significant engagement with school patron bodies and school management bodies as part of forward planning for 2026/2027.

The NCSE is undertaking analysis of information provided through the Parents Notify process which closed on 1 October to plot demand for special class places for the 2026/27 school year. The NCSE will also consider vacant places in existing special classes and places that will become available through the regular transition of children from primary for post-primary schools. Once this analysis is completed the NCSE will be equipped to engage with schools to open new special classes in relevant areas.

The NCSE expect to start sanctioning new special classes for the 2026/2027 school year this week. This is four months earlier than last year and will bring clarity and certainty for both parents and schools as to where classes will be located.

It will also afford greater lead in times for schools that require repurposing or major building works to get works complete and allow schools to recruit staff and undertake the training needed so that children are fully supported in these placements. Extensive work is also being undertaken to determine where additional special school capacity can be provided through the expansion of existing special schools or the establishment of new special schools and I expect to make some announcements on this work very shortly.