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Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Questions (482, 483)

Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

482. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the arrangements made for a child (details supplied) with autism in preschool due to start primary school and has no place in an ASD unit locally. [32599/19]

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Fiona O'Loughlin

Question:

483. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be an increase in the places available in an ASD unit (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32600/19]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 and 483 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, 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 enrolment of a child in a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and then a matter for the school/ Board of Management having regard to their own enrolment/admissions policy.  The Department and the NCSE has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools.

Parents/guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child.  Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have advised that for the 2019/20 school year there will be a total of 1,618 special classes of which 1,353 will be for children diagnosed with autism.

There will be 77 special classes in Co. Kildare for 2019/2020 school year, which includes 70 classes for children with Autism, of which 3 are new ASD classes.

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

As the matter raised by the Deputy refers to an individual child and a particular school, I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be forwarded to the National Council for Special Education for direct reply.

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