Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins has criticised the government for what she described as a disrespectful and chaotic approach to announcing new special classes.
Deputy Cummins, who is the party’s education spokesperson, said:
“Ministers have drip-fed information about special classes through their personal social media accounts without making an official announcement or notifying schools in advance.
“The manner in which this information has been conveyed shows a complete disregard for school communities already struggling with an inadequate special education system.
“It is frankly astonishing that something as important as the sanctioning of new special classes is being announced via ministers’ Instagram accounts, rather than through proper channels. Schools, parents and teachers are left scrambling for information, while those doing the real work on the ground are treated as an afterthought.
“Schools should always be the first to know when decisions are made that directly affect their students and staff.
“Concerns have also been raised about the lack of follow-through on previously announced special classes, with fears that many so-called new places only exist on paper.
“Anecdotally, we have heard from schools that were allocated special classes last year but have still not received any communication from the Department or National Council for Special Education (NCSE) about when building works will begin or when funding will be released. They are not real places if the classrooms are not built, the resources are not provided and the timelines are unknown.
“They amount to nothing more than phantom school places, giving families false hope while doing nothing to address the real crisis in special education provision.
“Children cannot learn in a class that does not exist. The government should not be announcing special classes without ensuring they are actually delivered.
“I am calling on the Minister for Education to immediately publish full details of all sanctioned special classes, with confirmed timelines for funding and building works.
“Our school communities deal with the failures of the system on a daily basis. They deserve respect, clear communication and certainty – not vague social media posts.”
January 13, 2026