'Small cohort' of children remain without a school place for new academic year

Last year 7,860 students who registered before the deadline met the requirements for a special class or special school place for this September. However, more applications were also received by the NCSE after this date. File picture: Danny Lawson/PA

A “small cohort” of children are still without a school place as pupils return to the classroom for the new academic year, the disability minister has confirmed.

Department officials are working “desperately hard” to make sure that families have certainty around school places as “soon as possible”, Michael Moynihan said. However, he cannot say exactly when all children will receive an appropriate school place.

“I understand the anxiety of families and that certainty would be brought to them as soon as is possible. But we are engaging with all families at this stage that have an education requirement,” he said.

The number of children requiring a special class or special school place has increased significantly in recent years, but Mr Moynihan said progress has been made “by any yardstick” over the last year in ensuring capacity is there to meet demand.

“In the 12 months from September 1, 2025, to the September 1, 2026, we have 994 special classes opened across the country. Bear in mind, there’s only 4,000 schools in the country, and we have nine special schools opened,” Mr Moynihan said.

This includes a new 24-pupil special school based in the former primary school building in Carrignavar, Co Cork, which opened its doors to pupils Monday.

The deadline for applying for a special class or special school was brought forward to October last year and has been set even earlier for next year’s intake with parents asked to register on the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) portal by tomorrow in a bid to fully plan and have places secured for the beginning of the academic year.

Last year 7,860 students who registered before the deadline met the requirements for a special class or special school place for this September. However, more applications were also received by the NCSE after this date.

Mr Moynihan said the department has been working throughout the summer to secure appropriate places and insisted his officials can “see a pathway” for every child who is without a place.

He said children who remain without a school place are dotted across the county.

The Fianna Fáil TD would not give an exact figure, as he said school places are being finalised on a daily basis, adding that reports of thousands of children waiting for an educational placement is wildly inaccurate.

“I would find it difficult to stomach some of the commentary on it. As late as a couple of weeks ago, some reputable news agencies had it that there was 2,400 children without places. Noting could be further from the truth.”

Mr Moynihan said “a lot of work” will be required to ensure capacity in the coming years as children progress from primary level to secondary school.

• Elaine Loughlin is Political Editor.