McConalogue warns forward planning key for special school places
Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue, has advised parents to engage in 'early planning' in order to secure a special class or a special school place for their children.
McConalogue is urging people to engage early with the NCSE Parents Notify portal, which officially opened this week.
The directive is aimed at parents looking to secure places in a special class or special school for the 2027/2028 academic year.
Parents and guardians must notify and engage with the NCSE portal by September 1, and provide the required documentation by September 15, 2026.
The Parents Notify process provides a clear overview of the need for specialised placements and enables the sanctioning of special classes across Donegal ahead of the new school year.
“Forward planning is central to ensuring children and young people with additional needs can access their education in a setting that suits them. It provides reassurance to families about their child’s school placement, while also giving schools the time needed to plan effectively for new classes, including accommodation and staffing,” the Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy commented.
McConalogue has highlighted the impact the initiative has had across schools in Donegal.
“The NCSE Parents Notify portal has been a really important initiative to enable the earlier planning of special class and special school placements in our schools here in Donegal. This process ensures that the Department of Education and Youth has a clear picture of the type of provision required by children and young people for September 2027.
McConalogue also expressed the need for early planning, especially with demand for special school places growing year-on-year.
“The most important message for parents today is that if they feel their child needs a specialist placement, they should contact the NCSE by September 1, and then documentation can follow as soon as it becomes available. There is no need to contact schools at this point, but if parents have any queries at any stage, they can contact their local SENO.
“I know that 1st September is earlier than last year, but this additional time will help ensure there is a clear sense of demand, which can feed into the budget process in the autumn. Early notification is essential to ensure sufficient places, staffing, and accommodation can be planned for the year ahead.
McConalogue reiterated his commitment to ensuring every child has access to additional support.
“Importantly, and as was the case this year, families will continue to be supported by their local Special Educational Needs Organiser until the additional documentation is available. I will also work with my colleague, Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, Michael Moynihan, to ensure every child and young person who needs additional support can access an appropriate education in their local community,” the Donegal Minister of State said.
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