Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 November 2018
153. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which adequate special needs classes remain available at all primary and secondary schools throughout County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49823/18]
View answer154. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which adequate special needs classes remain available at all primary and secondary schools throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49824/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 154 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. The placement decision is based on a recommendation contained within a professional assessment.
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 (SENOs), 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.
The NCSE is aware of emerging need in Kildare 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.
There are 4 special schools and 75 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Kildare. Of these, 57 are primary classes and 18 are post primary classes. 160 new special classes have been opened for the 2018/19 school year, including 1 new post-primary and 4 primary ASD classes in Co. Kildare. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available on www.ncse.ie.
While it is not always possible or practical that a special class placement would be available in a child’s local school, the NCSE has informed my Department that, in general, they are satisfied that there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand nationally. From time to time, the Council identifies local areas where additional provision is required. In those circumstances, SENOs work with the schools and families concerned to resolve the issues involved.
My Department is aware that the establishment of special class provision in some schools and communities can be challenging.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 when commenced will assist in addressing this issue in areas where the NCSE is of the opinion that there is insufficient education provision 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.
