Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is not satisfied that parents of children with special needs cannot secure access to a special school or schools with special classes.
He said ending this is "a key priority for me" and that he will be convening meetings with ministers to ensure the problem is resolved.
Mr Martin said every child has a right to education, and there needs to be a much more "seamless" operation in which changing demographics leads to more forward planning for the delivery of appropriate school places.
He denied a query from the Labour leader Ivana Bacik that a freeze was being implemented by the Department of Education regarding the recruitment of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs).
While a "poor consolation" to parents still seeking school places, he said SNA recruitment is up by 32% since 2020 and 400 special classes will come on stream from next September, with 218 already sanctioned.
Deputy Bacik said she welcomed the assertion that there was no SNA freeze, but she said it was "at odds" with what school principals have been telling the Labour Party.
She said what her party was hearing was that there was "some form directive from the Department" which has led to blockage.
She said it was clear that there had been a lack of planning from the Department of Education and this was "frustrating" for parents who were trying to cope.
She said she welcomed the Taoiseach's commitment to tackle the matter.
She added that there was currently a three-year-old long wait for assessment of need, with 14,000 children affected.
Ms Bacik said 118 children with special needs had no offers of a school place this year.
Mr Martin said the issue was a "very very important" issue and one he is "determined to deal with in the short term."
The Taoiseach said parents should know the previous academic year where their child will go in the subsequent year.
