Chris Andrews
Question:160. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to allow autism classes to take place in schools that are in temporary accommodation. [11965/20]
View answerTuesday, 23 June 2020
Questions (160)
Written answers
I wish to advise the Deputy that in considering applications for special classes, the National Council for Special Education (NSCE), in conjunction with the School Buildings Unit of my Department, is required to take into account the capacity of a school to establish a special class, including the provision of sufficient accommodation space within the school.
In order to ensure that a special class can be maintained, and to avoid future disruption for pupils in such classes, it is not the policy of my Department to establish special classes in schools which are in temporary accommodation, other than in circumstances where there are no schools in the local area which are in permanent accommodation and which can open special classes.
Schools which are in temporary accommodation and wish to establish a special class are requested to provide, through their Patron Body a development plan for the school for the forthcoming and future years to include the estimated need for new special classes and also the estimated demand for standard enrolments for future years. The decision on whether to establish a special class in such school will take account of the capacity for the school to establish and maintain such a class within its accommodation.