Six Dublin schools have been told to make more places available for children with special educational needs.

The Department of Education said the letters were sent to the schools and their patron in the Dublin 15 area on Friday.

The statutory notices set out the need to make more places available for children with special educational needs.

This is the second statutory notice that has been sent to schools in the area after shortages were identified.

All of the notices that have been served and all the representations received from schools are published on the Department of Education's website.

In total, 22 schools in the Dublin 15 area were initially written to about the need for more special education provision.

Subsequently 18 of these 22 schools were written to outlining the need for increased provision of special education.

Site visits by a technical team from the department were also carried out at 10 of these schools - more site visits are being planned for another three.

Eight schools have now been discounted from the process, as they were deemed not to have necessary accommodation for increased special needs provision.

While the department said it is satisfied that seven schools "have the necessary available accommodation for the immediate establishment of a special class."

One of these seven schools has agreed to establish a class, so no further action is required in this case.

Education Minister Joe McHugh said: "Ensuring that every child has a suitable placement available to them for the new school year is a key priority for me and the Government.

"I am deeply conscious of the stress and anxiety facing parents and their children as we work to secure more places. It is a priority issue for the department.

"I wish to thank schools and patron bodies for their help and support where they have already provided additional school places for children with special needs.

"I would prefer to see children welcomed into a school without the need for legal compulsion."

He added: "I am determined to do my utmost to ensure every child is allocated a suitable school place.

"It is my hope that this issue be resolved in this area in the coming weeks."

The schools have 14 days to make representations to the minister.