Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 February 2019
230. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce autism spectrum disorder, ASD, units at secondary school level (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6312/19]
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.
The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year, and where special class provision is required, it is planned and established to meet that need.
Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of post-primary special classes from 72 in 2011 to 322 across the country now. This is a natural consequence of the earlier growth in primary ASD special class numbers.
My Department will continue to support the NCSE in opening ASD special classes in areas where there is an identified need.
From time to time, the NCSE identifies local areas where additional special class provision is required. In those circumstances, SENOs work with the schools and families concerned to resolve the issues involved.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 will assist in addressing this issue where the NCSE is of the opinion that there is insufficient education provision for children with special educational needs in an area.
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.
Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available by county on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
