Sorca Clarke
Question:282. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Education the current capacity for early intervention classrooms and ASD units in each school in counties Westmeath and Longford in tabular form. [13598/22]
View answerThursday, 10 March 2022
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Written answers
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 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 additional needs nationwide.
Over the last 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 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 Counties Westmeath and Longford, 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.
At primary level, there is currently a network of 25 special classes, including 6 Early Intervention classes, providing specialist placements for students with autism in County Westmeath. 3 of these classes were newly established for the current school year. There are also 14 special classes at post-primary level in County Westmeath, 4 of which opened in the current school-year.
At primary level in County Longford, there is currently a network of 17 special classes, including 2 Early Intervention classes, providing specialist placements for students with autism. Again, 3 of these classes were newly established for the current school year. There are also 9 special classes at post-primary level in County Longford.
The NCSE is continuing to engage with primary and post-primary schools throughout Counties Westmeath and Longford regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond. There are specific plans in place to open additional special classes and every support will be made available to progress their opening in the shortest possible timeframe with a particular focus on September next.
It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.
I should also clarify that the NCSE does not maintain waiting lists for schools. Boards of management of individual schools are responsible for such enrolment matters.
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.
Parents seeking special class or special school placements for their children are advised to contact NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list .
Information on the list of special schools and schools with special classes, the type and location of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie