Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 February 2022
71. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Education if all new school building projects or extension projects will include special education facilities or incorporate the principles of universal design; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4720/22]
View answerI wish to assure the Deputy that the provision of appropriate accommodation for pupils with special edcuation needs is an absolute priority for Minister Madigan and myself. This is in two respects: firstly in ensuring that there is sufficient provision for pupils with special education needs and secondly in designing school accommodation that meets the needs of all users - students and staff - and enhances the learning experience.
In order to make accommodation provision to meet the needs of students with special education requirements, my Department has close engagement with the National Council for Special Education which has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. When the NCSE sanction a special class in a school, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding to re-configure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class or to construct additional accommodation. Similarly, where special schools wish to expand provision, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding to accommodate additional placements.
The NCSE has additionally provided my Department with projections of future requirements for classes for students with special education requirements. These are informing my Department's advance planning for special class accommodation.
This advance planning is building on the significant work to date in delivering additional classrooms for students with special education needs. There are currently over 1,200 further school building projects in train which are expected to deliver circa 1,800 permanent special classrooms.
Such classrooms for pupils with special education needs are included as standard in the accommodation brief for new school buildings and major extension projects, unless local circumstances indicate that they will not be required. Typically, two classrooms for pupils with special education needs are provided in new primary schools and four classrooms are provided in new 1,000 pupil post primary schools, with pro-rata provision for schools of other sizes. The overall accommodation suite for students with special education needs would also generally include ancillary accommodation such as a Central Activities Space, Multi Activity Room and Quiet Spaces as well as an outdoor Secure Play Area and Sensory Garden.
In addition to the specific accommodation provision for students with special education needs, the principles of universal design are embedded in all of my Department's technical guidance for school building projects, for the benefit of all school building users. A suite of such Technical Guidance Documents is published on my Department's website at www.gov.ie.
