Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2018
201. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of autism spectrum disorder units and number of places available in schools for children with autism at all levels for the Dublin 8, 10 and 12 areas, in tabular form. [47026/18]
View answer202. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children on waiting lists for each autism spectrum disorder unit at all levels, including preschool, primary school and secondary school, for the Dublin 8, 10 and 12 areas, in tabular form. [47027/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together.
Funding for special education provision in 2018 will amount to some €1.75 billion, up 43% since 2011 and equivalent to 18.7% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training.
My Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including Autism (ASD), in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated.
The greater proportion of children with Autism attend mainstream classes, but some require the environment of a special class or special school. This decision is based on a recommendation contained within a professional assessment and in consultation with the NCSE.
Special school placements are provided for other students with ASD and very complex special needs who wouldn’t manage in a mainstream school even for part of the week.
The NCSE is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers, for the development and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special class and special school placements.
Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of special classes from 548 in 2011 to 1,459 across the country now, of which 1,196 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes.
There are 37 special schools and 237 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Dublin. Of these, 17 are ASD early intervention classes, 139 are primary ASD classes and 41 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Dublin have increased from 66 in 2011/2012 to 197 in 2018/2019. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available on www.ncse.ie.
The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year in Dublin, and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need. I have arranged for the Deputy's question on emerging need to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools and it does not maintain details of waiting lists in schools. The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department has acknowledged that in recent years the establishment of special class provision in some schools and communities has been challenging.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 when fully commenced will assist in addressing these issues.
The Deputy will be aware that, on the 3rd October 2018, my predecessor Minister Bruton, commenced a number of sections of the Act. On that date the Minister also announced the commencement of Section 8 of the Act, from Monday 3rd December 2018, which will provide the Minister with a power, after a process of consultation with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), the board of management and the patron of the school, to compel a school to make additional provision for the education of children with special educational needs.
This power will come into effect on Monday 3rd December 2018. The NCSE will engage with the education partners and finalise procedures in advance of this date. This new power will build on the work which has been done in recent years to facilitate schools to open special classes.
Section 67 of the Act will provide certain powers to the NCSE to designate a school placement for a child in circumstances where a child is experiencing difficulties in securing enrolment.
A number of the remaining sections of the Act which have not yet been commenced including Section 67, require regulations and procedures to be drafted, and will require consultation with the Education Partners prior to commencement.
I intend to have the other remaining sections of the Act commenced in time for admissions to the 2020/21 school year.
