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Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 December 2020

Tuesday, 1 December 2020

Questions (76)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

76. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Education her plans to increase availability of school places for children with a disability; her views on whether her Department has adequate data available to it to forecast demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40091/20]

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Written answers

As the first-ever Minister with responsibility for special education, I am determined that specialist educational placements are available to meet the needs of children with special educational needs where required.

We are fortunate in Ireland that most schools accept their responsibility in this regard and are very willing to enrol children with special educational needs and open special classes to meet the needs of their community.

Good planning is essential to ensuring that specialist placements are available when and where they are required.

The National Council for Special Education has a statutory function to plan and coordinate specialist provision throughout the country. My Department works closely with the Council in supporting the establishment of the necessary provision.

Demand is forecast based on engagement with families, schools, HSE teams, NEPS and other relevant stakeholders.

There are now 1,836 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011. Of these 1,567 are Autism classes. Provision in special schools has increased from 6,848 placements in 2011 to approx. 7,872 this year.

And while the significant growth in special class and school provision is a strong indicator the current approach is effective, there are challenges in some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to reports of a shortage of specialist school places.

Recently, protocols and procedures have been developed between my Department and the NCSE that provide for a more joined up approach to planning at both national and local level. The NCSE is developing a five year forecasting tool which incorporates population demographics and forecasts of need which will inform future planning for special class accommodation in major projects and new school builds.

Through better planning at both national and local level, it is my objective that specialist education places should come on stream to meet emerging demand on a timely basis. However, the active collaboration of school communities is essential in this regard.

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