Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021
162. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education when she expects all special needs classes to be restored throughout the country subject to best safety practices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4881/21]
View answer164. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education the extent to which special needs classes at primary and second level will be available throughout County Kildare when schools reopen; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4883/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 164 together.
I am very disappointed that it was not possible to have in school teaching and learning for children with significant additional needs which was planned to commence last week until schools reopened fully. We know that many of these children find online learning very challenging. Over the past year, we have all seen how vital in-person education is for children with complex needs.
Recent weeks have seen intense and regular engagement with partners and family representative groups to seek a solution to our shared objective to support children with complex needs return to in-school learning, could be reached.
My Department sought to agree an approach balancing the need to support our most vulnerable children while addressing the issues raised by trade unions and school management bodies.
These included requests for clear messaging around public health to be given directly to their members by Public Health specialists, temporary arrangements during the current phase of reopening for high risk staff and for those experiencing childcare difficulties.
We continue to work with the primary teacher and SNA trade unions, INTO and FORSA and school management to see if there is a way to return to in school teaching and learning for these pupils as soon as possible.
Every effort is being made to resolve matters in a collaborative way so that children with complex needs can return to school safely as soon as possible.
In the interim I am confident that schools will continue to make significant efforts to provide effective remote learning experiences for these children. Updated Guidance on Continuity of Schooling: Supporting Pupils with Special Educational Needs (for mainstream primary and special schools and for post-primary schools) has been made available by my Department.
With regard to special class availability in Co. Kildare I can advise the Deputy that there are currently 6 Early Intervention Classes, 54 ASD classes attached to primary schools at present and 18 attached to post primary schools.
The NCSE is currently engaging in a process of planning in relation to the establishment of new classes for the 2021/2022 school year by looking at both national and local information in relation to projected demand for future specialist places for students with ASD.
Currently SENO’s in the Kildare area are engaging with Parents; local HSE Network Disability Teams, as well as communicating with schools regarding places available in special classes already established and in planning for new special classes. This is part of the planning for provision in the area and SENOs will continue in this work in preparation for the new school academic year 2021/22.
