Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 November 2018
247. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the plight of a pupil with autism that will shortly complete primary school and whose parent has applied and been refused (details supplied); and the options available to this pupil and others on the autism spectrum. [49082/18]
View answerIt is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.
Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.
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 a recommendation contained within a professional assessment in consultation with the NCSE.
Students enrolling in specialised placements must have a report from a relevant professional or team of professionals stating that:
- S/he has a disability (in line with the designation of the special placement in question) and
- S/he has significant learning needs that require the support of a specialised setting and the reasons why this is the case.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for organising and planning provision for children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools.
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.
124 special schools also provide specialist education for those students with complex special educational needs, including students diagnosed with ASD.
The NCSE is aware of emerging need in Dublin from year to year, and where special provision, including special class provision, is required, it is planned and established to meet that need. This process is ongoing.
The NCSE advises parents to seek to enrol their child, by applying in writing, to the school/s of their choice as early as possible.
Where parents have been unsuccessful in enrolling their child in a school placement, for the 2019/20 school year, they should update their local SENO to inform the planning process. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie .
As the Deputy has not provided adequate details I cannot comment on the specific case to which you refer. I would advise the Deputy to refer the specific case, including details in relation to the child, to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) for their attention and direct reply.
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 this issue in areas where the NCSE is of the opinion that there is insufficient capacity in relation to the provision of education for children with special educational needs.
Section 8 of the Act, which will commence from Monday 3rd December 2018, will provide the Minister with a power, after a process of consultation with the 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.
The NCSE is engaging with the education partners and will 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.
