Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022
123. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the efforts her Department and the National Council for Special Education are making to address the lack of ASD units in primary schools in south County Tipperary, specifically in the Carrick-on-Suir attachment area; her plans to develop new ASD units in primary schools in greater south County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13156/22]
View answerEnabling 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 a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs.
This includes additional teaching and care supports.
As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants 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 with special educational needs nationwide.
Over teh past two years,, my Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year.
I am satisfied that this more joined up approach is delivering. Through this intensive intervention, we have seen over 300 additional special classes, providing 1,800 new places, opened nationwide for the 2021/22 school-year.
I also acknowledge that 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 school places.
The NCSE has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
In terms of County Tipperary, I can confirm that the NCSE is aware of an identified need for additional special classes for students with autism in primary and post-primary schools. Work has been underway with stakeholders for a number of years to meet the demand for places.
We are always grateful to those schools that have responded, and continue to respond positively to meet the educational needs of children in their communities.
There is currently a network of 95 special classes in Tipperary of which 72 are special classes for students with autism. Of these, 24 classes catering for students with autism are attached to mainstream schools in South Tipperary - 12 are at primary level including 2 Early Intervention classes and 12 are at post primary level. A total of 4 new special classes have been established in South Tipperary for the 2021/2022 school year, 2 at primary level and 2 at post primary level.
There are also 8 autism special classes (6 primary and 2 post-primary) in schools in Kilkenny and Waterford, bordering Carrick-on-Suir and which are within a 20 km radius of the town.
NCSE is currently engaging in a process of establishing new classes for the 2022/2023 school year and beyond. NCSE is looking at local information in relation to projected demand for future special education places, particularly to cater for students with autism who have associated complex needs.
The NCSE has carried out a review of the requirement for special class places for students with autism for the 2022/23 school year in the South Tipperary region. This included a review of the available accommodation in the Carrick on Suir area and a review of the students known to the NCSE with recommendations for special class places.
The NCSE is currently aware of four students in the Carrick on Suir area seeking a special class placement and will continue to work with the parents and schools in the area to find a suitable placement for these students.
I want to reassure the Deputy that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the type and location of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at ncse.ie/special-classes
