Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
480. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education the budget number of ASD units in primary and national schools for 2022; the number of such schools in County Limerick that have ASD units; the number of applications with her Department for funding for the provision of ASD units in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52146/21]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.
Next year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs.
An additional 269 special classes have opened this school-year. This brings the total number of special classes nationally to 2,118. The new classes provide 1,600 additional places, spread right throughout the country.
Two new special schools have also opened recently, one in Dublin and one in Cork.
The additional provision secured in Budget 2022 for measures supporting children with special educational needs also includes an additional 360 new teaching posts which will facilitate the opening of 287 new special classes next year providing over 1,700 new places in 2022 and 140 new special school places.
Despite this unprecedented increase, I am very aware of the need for further specialist education places in a small number of areas.
I can confirm that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has specific plans in place for the establishment of new special classes and continue to engage with schools and my Department's Planning and Building Unit regarding planned school building projects in the area referred to by the Deputy.
I acknowledge that any delay in securing a suitable school placement can cause much anguish for parents and families involved.
My Department and the NCSE have therefore put in place new planning structures and procedures to ensure sufficient places become available to meet local need. As new need emerges, there is a cohesive response available to ensure places become available in a timely and targeted way.
The willingness of school communities to open special classes is central to ensuring that every child can obtain a suitable placement. My Department and the NCSE can provide the necessary funding, teaching and SNA resources, professional supports and training so that the required special class places can be provided as soon as possible.
I can reassure the Deputy that the local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) continue to be available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs.
Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.
A full list of all schools with special classes is also available on the NCSE website.
