Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
949. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact that over 50 children requiring a place in an ASD unit or special school place in east County Cork do not have a secondary school place for September 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18545/21]
View answer950. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if an impact assessment will be carried out on the lack of special secondary school places in east County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18546/21]
View answer951. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Education if an impact assessment will be carried out on the lack of primary special school places and ASD places in east County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18547/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 949 to 951, inclusive, together.
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.
The majority of special schools cater for students up to the age of 18. However, in the event that students are transitioning from a special school to a post-primary school, such enrolment applications are a matter for each individual board of management and the NCSE does not hold such records.
The NCSE, through its local network of SENOs (Special Educational Needs Organisers), is available to provide advice and support to parents of students that are due to transition to post-primary on the possible placement options available to their child, including mainstream placement with appropriate support, special class placement and special school placement. Post-primary placements are supported with additional resources where required.
The Deputy will be aware of the recent announcement whereby Minister Foley and I have secured a significant expansion of special school provision in Cork through the establishment of a new special school and increased capacity in an existing special school to meet the needs of children in the Cork area.
The new provision will see the establishment of a new special school in Carrigaline which will have the capacity to provide 48 school places. It will provide for the needs of children with autism and general learning disability up to eighteen years of age.
The provision will also provide for a change to the designation of St. Mary’s Special School, Rochestown to cater for children with a dual diagnosis of learning disability and autism with 12 new school places becoming available for September 2021.
Priority will now be given to those children who currently do not have an offer of a school place for next September.
The provision of 60 additional special school placements is to cater for the immediate requirements. I can assure the Deputy that my Department and the NCSE continue to work towards the development of additional placements in the Cork area to meet ongoing and future demand.
The NCSE's local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) remains available to parents. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: https://ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list. As information on available special education places changes as the school year progresses, parents are advised to maintain contact with their local SENOs.
