NCSE 2024: The Scale of Special Education Investment

The NCSE's 2024 Policy Advice Paper noted that in 2023, over 2.6 billion euro was invested in special education in Ireland, representing 27% of the Department of Education's total budget allocation. The number of special classes in primary schools grew from 489 in 2010 to 1,804 in October 2022 — a 268% increase — with autism classes growing from 214 to 1,463 (a 584% increase). At post-primary level, special classes grew by 714% between 2010 and 2022. These figures underscore the urgency of developing more effective and equitable approaches through UDL.