Brendan Griffin
Question:484. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Education the position regarding the case of a child (details supplied). [4417/21]
View answerWednesday, 27 January 2021
Questions (484)
Written answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
This year, over 20% of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs. As a result, the numbers of special education teachers, SNAs and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. My Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
In circumstances, where no placement is available for a child with special educational needs, the Department can provide Home Tuition grant funding towards the provision of 20 hours home tuition per week as an interim measure until the NCSE confirms that a placement is available.
In relation to the case referenced by the Deputy, the parent is advised to contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) in respect of any difficulty they are experiencing in getting a suitable placement. SENO contact details are available on the NCSE website at: https://ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list. A copy of this reply will be sent to the NCSE for its attention.