Minister for Education and Youth, Hildegarde Naughton, and Minister of State for Special Education, Michael Moynihan, have today announced the sanctioning of 40 new special classes and 5 inclusive special classes for the 2026/2027 school year, further expanding provision for children and young people with special educational needs.
This builds on last week’s confirmation of plans to establish four new special schools for the
coming academic year. (https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/press-releases/four-new-special-schools-announced-to-deliver-for-children-with-additional-needs/ )Continued Expansion of Special Education Provision
The majority of students with special educational needs continue to be supported in mainstream classrooms alongside their peers in local communities. Where students have more complex needs, special class placements are provided, while students with the most complex needs are supported through special school placements.
The Government remains committed to accelerating the delivery of additional special education provision. In recent years, new special classes have been established at both primary and post-primary levels in every county.
Since 2020, provision has expanded significantly:
- Primary special classes have increased by 99%, from 1,319 to 2,629
- Post-primary special classes have increased by 115%, from 517 to 1,112
- 16 new special schools have opened, with a further 4 planned
- Special school enrolments have increased by 20%
- Over 40% of special schools have benefitted from new or upgraded building projects
Budget 2026 has also provided funding for 3,000 additional places, including over 430 new special classes and up to 400 special school places.
Increased Demand and Earlier Planning
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has reported a continued increase in demand for special education places for the 2026/2027 school year. A key development has been the introduction of the online “Parents Notify” process, which has provided clearer, earlier visibility of need and enabled more proactive engagement with schools.
Approximately 75% of students identified as requiring a special class place are already in school, while others are younger children who may apply for places in future school years.
The NCSE will continue to monitor demand and support families through the continued sanctioning of classes throughout the placement process.
New Special Classes for 2026/2027
Today’s announcement brings the total number of new special classes sanctioned for the upcoming school year to 427, with further approvals expected in the coming weeks.
Notably, many classes were sanctioned earlier than in previous years, reflecting a strengthened focus on forward planning. The Department and the NCSE will continue to prioritise early approvals.
A list of the 40 new special classes being announced today is at Appendix 1.
Introducing Inclusive Special Classes
Five inclusive special classes have also been sanctioned as part of a new approach to supporting students with additional needs.
This builds on good practice that helps students with additional needs learn alongside other students in mainstream classes, while also having time during the day to receive extra support in a special class.
This approach formalises good practices already in place in many schools and aligns with national policy developments on inclusive education.
Inclusive special classes help more students attend their local schools while still getting the support they need. Students can move between mainstream classes and special classes depending on what support they need at any time.
Inclusive special classes are already operating in number of schools that have at least one special class. This allows schools to support more students within the same school setting and builds on what is already working well in some schools. This approach reflects the demand from schools across the country for more flexible and inclusive ways to support students with additional needs.
Each inclusive special class will receive funding for:
- 1 teacher (or 1.5 teachers at post‑primary level)
- 2 Special Needs Assistants (SNAs)
- Extra capitation funding
- Access to training and support from the NCSE
Schools will also receive:
- A €30,000 start‑up grant for furniture and equipment
- Funding for minor building works or repurposing works, where needed
Students attending these classes will also be eligible for standard school transport supports.
A list of schools establishing the five inclusive special classes is included at Appendix 2.
Confirming the sanctioning of classes this afternoon, Minister Naughton said:
“Today’s announcement marks another important step in ensuring that every child can access the education that best meets their needs. By expanding both special classes and introducing inclusive special class models, we are strengthening our ability to support students in their local communities while also responding to increasing demand. Our focus remains on early planning, sustained investment, and delivering real, practical supports for families and schools across the country.”
Minister Moynihan said:
"I'm pleased to see the continued investment and expansion of special education supports with today's announcement. A key consideration for the long term is to have as many children as possible attend their local school alongside their siblings and friends. This is why the rollout of inclusive special classes is important for students and families. These have been working well in other schools to date and have helped ensure children can attend their local school and receive the supports that they need. As we work with the NCSE to address the increased demand for September 2026, we will continue to sanction further special education placements over the coming weeks."
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