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Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 February 2021

Thursday, 18 February 2021

Questions (179)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Question:

179. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education if she will consider making it a requirement that all schools in receipt of public funding would have to facilitate an ASD unit, given the huge shortage of places nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9097/21]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that in the case of all new schools, it is general practice within my Department to include a Special Education Needs Base (SEN Base) in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. Typically, a two classroom SEN Base is provided in new primary schools and a two or four classroom SEN Base is provided in new post primary schools.

As the Deputy is aware, special classes can also be established within a school's existing accommodation. In such circumstances, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding to re-configure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation for special needs purposes, should the school’s existing accommodation not be capable of hosting special classes.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. It has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents. The NCSE seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special education placements.

The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and special school places nationally, to meet identified need. This process is ongoing.

It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school.

Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of specialised provision.

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

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