91. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will report on her Department’s forward planning for special education places in the academic year 2026-27. [70886/25]

Sentiment score: 0.13

I wish to ask about the report on the Department’s forward planning for special education places in 2026-27. When I wrote this question, it was mostly to do with the portal at that time. I am now even more concerned since the announcement in relation to assessment of need by the Minister for children. I am just wondering about those two things. I know I got a letter from the Minister of State earlier this week or late last week with regard to the portal. I am concerned, however, because you still cannot log on and no parent is able to access it. I just want to see how this is going to be done. I know the question echoes previous questions, but I ask it in light of the new assessment of need situation. I thank the Minister of State very much.

Sentiment score: 0.09

My concern is that when the portal closed on 1 October, parents were no longer able to apply. Was that a way of saying that, for example, 600 parents applied for their children through the portal and we were able to provide those places? The vacant places that the Minister of State talks about, and I have raised this previously, are phantom places because if there are children at home without an appropriate school place, it does not matter how many vacant places we have. If they are not appropriate, they are a waste of space and a waste for a child. I am also concerned about the issue of assessment of need. If we are taking away the need for an assessment of need to gain a special educational place but there will be an educational aspect to it, who is going to do that? Are they going to be qualified to do it? If a child rocks up to a school in September, how will the school forward plan for the needs of that child? How do we make sure that the school is the appropriate school for that child? I am really concerned that we have not got a handle on that. We are now entering into a new phase in terms of how we allocate places when we have not managed the phase we are currently in.

Sentiment score: -0.02

The plan is that the Department will allocate places over the next few days. If it then realises that there is further capacity, is the Department going to reopen the portal so that all of those late applications will be able to be considered as well? We are in one process currently, but an announcement has just been made that will affect the school year after next. It is important not to confuse the two issues because there is huge confusion and fear out there with regard to that. Will the Department be able to open up the portal again so that it can have a true vision of what is actually needed? If an assessment of need is no longer needed, how will schools know what needs a child has?

Sentiment score: 0.07

How?

Sentiment score: 0.00

They are being turned away. I am sorry to speak over the Minister of State, but they are being turned away.

Sentiment score: -0.02