‘Unprecedented demand’ means hundreds of kids could be left without special school places

The Taoiseach says the number of applications for next year has “increased exponentially”

Taoiseach Micheál Martin told the Dáil that demand has "increased exponentially" and is “over and above anything contemplated”.

He said it cannot be guaranteed that children will get a school place, and that the data is “challenging”.

The Taoiseach was responding to Labour education spokesperson Eoghan Kenny's claims that an extra 600 specials classes would be needed in schools come September. The Department of Education has not confirmed this figure.

Budget was made available for an extra 400 special classes, meaning there will be around 200 short, per the Irish Independent.

As each special class has between four to six pupils in, this means 800 to 1,000 pupils will be without spaces.

In the current school year, around 260 children have been left without a place in special classes.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) said in response to the Irish Independent that it aims to “continuously forward-plan to provide additional special class and special school places for children with complex special educational needs”.

It added that a “significant number of children and young people who have applied for a special school place in September are already enrolled in school and are being supported by existing special education teachers and special needs assistants”.

“The NCSE has advised the Department of an increasing number of children and young people who have come to their attention since the 1 October timeline. Following engagement between the department and the NCSE, the NCSE have recommenced the issuing of letters of eligibility to children and young people who have made contact with them after the 1 October timeline and who meet the criteria for a special class or special school placement.”

The Department said that, in September, 30,500 pupils with complex needs will be enrolled in special classes and special schools, which is an increase of more than 67 per cent since 2020.

The Taoiseach explained that the earlier deadline for applications for special education places from September 2026 may have been a contributing factor.

“The numbers have increased exponentially this year. Perhaps it is because of the earlier date or there may be other factors,” he said. “It is over and above anything that was contemplated and, in particular, many more have come in post the October deadline.”

When asked if every child would be given a place, he said: “There is a constitutional right for every child to have a place in education. Our objective and obligation as a Government is to provide that place. There will be a need for more special classes.

“There will be huge challenges because of the exponential rise this year, compared to last year or previous years, in the data that has come in, both for those who went before the deadline date and those after.”

The news comes after the government reversed its decision on cutting SNAs in the new school year.

Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton and Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan have confirmed there will be no cuts and the planned review will be paused.

The government confirmed that there will be no reductions in the 2026/27 school year.

They stated: “SNAs play a critical role in our schools – I know how much they mean to school communities, parents, and the children they support.

“I have listened carefully to all of the issues raised by parents and school communities in recent days. I want to reiterate that there are no cuts to SNA numbers."

According to reports, an additional €19 million will be allocated to fund SNAs.

There was nationwide uproar over the Government's plans to reduce the number of SNAs in 194 schools.

The decision to cut special needs assistants' roles in schools was made after a review of their allocations.