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Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 January 2019

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Questions (334, 335, 336)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

334. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide a list of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special classes in County Meath. [54535/18]

View answer

Thomas Byrne

Question:

335. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a town (details supplied) in County Meath does not have an ASD unit. [54536/18]

View answer

Thomas Byrne

Question:

336. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deliver special classes and ASD units in the schools to be newly opened in September 2019. [54537/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 to 336, inclusive, together.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs including Autism, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.

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. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available by county on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie

In Co. Meath, there are 3 special schools and 59 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Meath. Of these, 3 are Early Intervention classes, 35 are primary special classes and 16 are post primary special classes.

The NCSE identifies the need for special class and special school placements nationally on an ongoing basis, and where specialised provision is required to support children with Special Educational Needs, it is planned and established to meet that need.

Schools may apply to the NCSE to open a special class where a need has been identified in their area, i.e. a number of students have professional reports indicating they require the support of a special class.

SENOs may also approach a school directly where they are aware that a special class is or will be required in the near future.

The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the present and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas.

Where a school is not in a position to accommodate a special class within its existing accommodation, it is open to the school to submit an application to the Department for capital funding to re-configure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class or to construct additional accommodation.

In the case of all new schools, it is general practice to include a Special Education Needs Base (SEN Base) in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. Typically, a two classroom SEN Base is provided in new primary schools and a two or four classroom SEN Base is provided in new post primary schools.

I have arranged for the Deputy's question on the location of special class provision in the Meath area to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

My Department is aware that the establishment of special provision in some schools and communities can be challenging.

The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 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 commenced on the 3rd of December 2018, provides 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.

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