Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 July 2016
135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which he expects special needs teaching requirements in all schools throughout County Kildare at primary and second level to be met in 2016; his proposals for the future in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23108/16]
View answer137. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which children with autism continue to have ready access to primary and second level school places throughout County Kildare; the extent to which any difficulties have arisen in meeting the ongoing requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23110/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 137 together.
The NCSE, through its network of locally based Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) allocates Special Needs Assistant (SNA) and Low Incidence Resource Teaching Hours support to schools for children with special educational needs (SEN) arising from a disability.
Resource hours are an additional teaching resource allocated to a school to support children in mainstream classes who have an identified Special Educational Need (SEN). SNA support is provided to a school to provide for the significant additional care needs of children with an identified SEN who require such support to attend school. These additional supports are allocated by the NCSE in accordance my Department's policy parameters.
The NCSE recently announced Resource Teaching allocations for the 2016/17 school year. The Resource Teaching allocation to support students in Co. Kildare schools equates to 303.58 teaching posts.
The NCSE recently announced SNA allocations for the 2016/17 school year. 547.22 SNA posts have been allocated to support students in mainstream classes, students in special classes and students in special schools in Co. Kildare.
The Deputy will be aware that the Department's policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. 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 NCSE is also responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
The NCSE recently published a list of special classes for the 2016/17 school year. In total there will be 1,153 special classes available next year, which is an increase of over 100% in the number of special classes which were available in 2011, which was 548.
The NCSE has advised that for the coming school year there will be 127 early intervention classes, 525 primary ASD classes and 237 post-primary ASD classes, which represents an increase of approx. 16% on 2015/16 classes for children with autism.
From September 2016 there will be 66 Special classes in Co Kildare (up from 64 in 15/16): 59 classes are for students with ASD, including 6 Early Intervention Classes for children who are not yet school going age, 41 primary school classes and 12 at post primary level in mainstream schools. 2 of these classes are new classes due to open in September 2016, 1 at primary level and 1 at post primary level.
In addition there will be 1 class for students with mild General Learning Disability, 4 classes for students with a moderate General Learning Disability and 2 classes for students with a severe/profound General Learning Disability.
For the 2016/17 school year will be 73 class teachers for the 66 special classes.
The NCSE continues to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to establish such new special classes where necessary subject to the willingness of schools to open classes.
Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs, including those in Co. Kildare, are available on www.ncse.ie in county order, with new classes identified.
