Duncan Smith
Question:383. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills when the ASD unit for a school (details supplied) will open. [16734/20]
View answerTuesday, 21 July 2020
Questions (383)
Written answers
Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department. Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs.
Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year, with 1,353 of these catering for children with autism.
Budget 2020 provided for an additional 265 special class teachers in 2020, which will allow for the opening of additional classes where required.
The National Council for Special Education has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide; has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents; and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and school places nationally to meet identified need for next year. This process is ongoing.
I can confirm that the school referred to by the Deputy has been approved for a four classroom SEN base under my Department's Additional Accommodation Scheme 2019. This will facilitate expansion of SEN provison in the school.
When the design stages are completed, and planning permission and the other statutory approvals have been secured, my Department will be able to provide the Deputy with a more definitive timeframe for the tender and construction stages of the project.