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Opening of a Special Class

For Special Educational Needs (SEN) classes sanctioned by the NCSE for the academic year 2025/26:

A start-up grant of €30,000 will be paid to each school that has received sanction from the NCSE to open a new SEN class for the 2025/26 academic year. This payment will be facilitated by the Department's Planning and Building Unit automatically, based on notification to it from the NCSE on lists of schools that are opening new a SEN class(es) for the 2025/26 academic year.

There is no need for the school to contact the Department as this grant is issued automatically.

This process has superseded the existing process, which required schools to apply to the Department based on the approval of a SEN class(es) from the NCSE.

Further information in respect of this new process can be found below:

Circular 0080/2024
The purpose of this circular is to outline these new additional measures, to highlight developments in the area of special class and special school planning, and to clearly indicate the roles and responsibilities of each party in supporting the processes involved.
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Guidance Note on the Start Up Grant for Providing SEN through Repurposing Existing Accommodation
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The Department’s approval process

If the grant is approved, the school will receive a Purchase Order number, confirming that funding has been approved, and the money will be transferred to the school’s bank account.