(Ireland) Special classes for 2026 to be fast-tracked for approval by years end

May 31, 2025, Irish Examiner: Most special classes for 2026 to be approved by year-end under new fast-tracked system

Schools have been told that most new special classes for September 2026 will be sanctioned by the end of this year under “ambitious” new targets.

The Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are aiming to sanction the majority of new classes for the 2026/27 school year by the end of December.

It is one of several new policies aimed at resolving long-standing issues with the application system for special classes, which sees families struggling to find school places each year.

The move brings the application process forward by approximately four months, and closer in line with the timeline during which students apply to mainstream schools.

“This is an ambitious target, but one which we think can have significant benefits for both families and schools,” a departmental circular issued this week said.

Achieving this “will require significant work and collaboration between all stakeholders”, it added.

It also means that schools and parents must notify the NCSE that a child requires a special class or special school place for September 2026 by October 1 this year.

When applying for a special class, a child now must include a letter from the NCSE "confirming that the child is known to them and that the child has the required diagnosis and recommendation for a special class for autism".

The NCSE is expected to meet with school patron bodies in the coming weeks to discuss the new approach in more detail and to identify the schools the NCSE should approach for the establishment of new classes.

It is expected to focus closely on the remaining primary schools that either do not have a special class open or that have room for an additional class, as well as post-primary schools that do not have a special class.

Schools that already have multiple classes open will also not be asked by the NCSE to open more classes for September 2026.

Primary schools that have three existing special classes, and post-primary schools that have four, will not be asked to open additional special classes for 2026.

"This is to ensure an equitable distribution of special classes can be achieved across a greater number of schools."

Minister for Education Helen McEntee confirmed that a common application process for special class enrolments at primary level is being trialed in a number of areas.

Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan said he is confident the measures will drive the kind of collaboration and support "which is much needed if we are to appropriately plan and prepare for this ever-increasing need."

"The vast majority of schools opening new special classes are completing or have completed their admissions processes,” he said, adding that NCSE and the department are working closely with remaining schools to start their admission processes.