Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2015
454. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made to increase the number of autism spectrum disorder places in mainstream secondary schools in south Dublin in view of the disparity between the number of places available at primary and secondary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3494/15]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's policy focuses on ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs and abilities.
A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for establishing special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
SENOs engage with schools annually in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes each year, in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area.
Details of all of the special classes for children with special educational needs which are attached to mainstream schools are published each year on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
The NCSE will continue to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas, including in Dublin south, and has capacity to open such new special classes where necessary.
