Special Educational Needs
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-24
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Michael Moynihan (FF), Cork North-West

I take the Deputy's point and I can get the figures for her. In the provision of specialised education, we want to ensure that in special classes that are associated with mainstream schools, inclusivity is one of the major key pieces in it. In the ramping up of the provision and the capacity across the country, I have been at many schools and seen the work that has happened over the past while. We have made a very serious commitment and in terms of any new build that is going on, both at primary and post-primary levels, the first criteria that we reach out for is what is the provision for specialised education in all of that programme. Capital investment has to have provision at mainstream level, both for primary and post-primary schools.
The school leadership brought the school through the amalgamation process and has an exceptional team working there. I take the Deputy's point about buildings but it is also about ensuring every child feels welcome. I know that is the case in this school. In all schools across the country, it is important that it is not just about buildings, be they brick and mortar or modular, and that inclusivity means every child with special education needs feels and is included in the school, insofar as possible. I have no doubt that that will be the case.
On the question the Deputy asked about the financing, because we have provided so much funding this year, last year and again next year, we have to make sure we have provision for specialised education right across the country. I will get the figures the Deputy asked for.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-09-24/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:50+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-24