Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 January 2019
216. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an application by a school (details supplied) in County Clare to provide an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4039/19]
View answerThe 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.
There are 37 special classes attached to mainstream schools in County Clare. Of these, two are ASD early intervention classes, 20 are primary ASD classes and seven are post-primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in County Clare has increased from five in 2011-12 to 29 in 2018-19. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available by county on the NCSE website: www.ncse.ie.
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.
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.
In addition, the NCSE will consider:
- the school’s accommodation and accessibility;
- the number of special classes, if any, already in the school.
The NCSE has not currently identified the need to establish additional ASD special classes in the area referred to by the Deputy.
However, this process is ongoing, and should the NCSE identify the requirement for additional special class placements in the area it will contact schools in the area in relation to establishing an ASD special class.
Parents/Guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement, including special class placement, should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser, SENO, who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available at: http://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list.
My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.
