Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 February 2022

Tuesday, 22 February 2022

Questions (466, 467, 468, 469)

Holly Cairns

Question:

466. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if the decision to close the early intervention class in a school (details supplied) will be reversed. [9732/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

467. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the reason for the phasing out of early intervention ASD classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9733/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

468. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the details of her meetings with student organisations, school children parents’ organisations, teachers' unions, unions representing other school staff and disability organisations concerning the phasing out early intervention classes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9734/22]

Holly Cairns

Question:

469. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the list of each national school in which early intervention ASD classes have been closed or are scheduled to be closed since 1 January 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9735/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 466 to 469, inclusive, together.

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.

This 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.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.

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.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes.

It is important also to point out that the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides up to two years of preschool within the eligible age rate, without charge. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), introduced in 2016, enables the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities/additional needs in the ECCE Programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in preschools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. A diagnosis of autism (or other disabilities/additional needs) is not required to access AIM supports. However, preschool children with a diagnosis are generally supported in mainstream preschools with additional supports provided through AIM where required.

NCSE sanctions the establishment of special classes, including ASD Early Intervention (EI) classes where there is an identified need. I understand that, on occasion, EI classes are re-designated as school-age special classes to reflect the changing age-profile of students, the changing needs in an area and in order to ensure a continuation of support for students in the EI class who require a special class placement.

The school referenced by the Deputy currently has two ASD special classes and one Early Intervention class which opened in September 2020.

At that time, the school agreed that while the class would open as an Early Intervention ASD class, it would be re-designated as an additional primary ASD class from September 2022 to meet the projected demand for places in the area.

This additional special class would cater for the students enrolled in the Early Intervention class should they continue to require a special class place for their primary education at that time.

I also understand that earlier this month, the school engaged with the NCSE regarding the emerging need for the retention of the Early Intervention class in the school and requested that the class be retained.

This request is being considered by the NCSE as a matter of urgency and a meeting has been arranged with the school to review the level of need in the area and the capacity of the school to meet the need.

A decision will be made very quickly on the matter.

I can assure the Deputy that the NCSE will take account of the overall need in the area and the provision required to meet that need.

As referenced above, ASD EI classes are generally re-designated, not closed. The number of active ASD EI classes in each of the school years from 2015/2016 to date is detailed in the following table.

School Year	Early Intervention
2015/16	118
2016/17	127
2017/18	130
2018/19	129
2019/20	132
2020/21	135
2021/22	132

Both my Department and the NCSE are always grateful to schools who express a willingness to open a special class to meet the educational needs of students in their local communities.

The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs.

Information on the location of EI classes is available on the NCSE website.

Question No. 467 answered with Question No. 466.

Question No. 468 answered with Question No. 466.

Question No. 469 answered with Question No. 466.