Minister Promises Clear School Placement for Special Needs Children by 2025

The Minister for Special Education, Michael Moynihan, has committed to ensuring that all children requiring special school placements will know their school assignments by the end of this year. Speaking to the Oireachtas committee on disability matters, Moynihan emphasized the importance of providing families with “clear roadmaps” for their children’s educational future ahead of the upcoming academic year starting in September 2026.

Parents of children who will need special education placements next year are urged to notify the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) by October 1, 2025. The minister stated, “We want to ensure families have clear roadmaps for where their children will go to school in September 2026, before 2026 starts.” He assured committee members that decisions regarding school placements will be communicated to families by Christmas 2025.

The new October deadline marks a significant change from previous years, when parents had until spring to inform the NCSE. This earlier notification period is designed to alleviate stress for families, allowing the council to begin the allocation of special school places much earlier in the academic year. Moynihan noted, “There will be very serious decisions made by the NCSE and the Department of Education when we know the need on 1st October.”

Concerns raised by committee members highlighted discrepancies in the minister’s claims regarding the number of children currently without special school placements. Moynihan reported that fewer than 10 children are without a place for the current school year. “We are talking about single-digit figures at the moment… I can assure you we are working extremely hard with the families… to make sure we find a solution for those less than 10 that we have at the moment,” he said.

In response, Ruairí Ó Murchú, a member of Sinn Féin, expressed skepticism about the reported figures. He noted that his party’s information indicated a significantly higher number of children lacking appropriate placements. “I am going to take a wild guess that the number is probably greater and what we are talking about is those who are not in appropriate places,” he stated.

Furthermore, Keira Keogh, a Fine Gael representative, voiced her disagreement with the minister’s assessment. She pointed out that while a child may have a designated school place, if they are not receiving the necessary support or are effectively excluded from attending, the situation is not satisfactory. Keogh referenced a specific instance of a school being instructed to admit two new children with special needs, only for them to remain at home due to the lack of adequate support.

Moynihan acknowledged the concerns raised by committee members, reiterating that the government is committed to addressing the challenges faced by families seeking special education placements. “We are not blind to the issues out there,” he added, emphasizing the need for ongoing support and resources for children with special educational needs.

The commitment to earlier notifications and clearer communication represents a significant effort to improve the special education system and support families navigating the complexities of securing appropriate placements for their children. As the October deadline approaches, families are encouraged to engage with the NCSE to ensure their children’s educational needs are met.