Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 June 2022
623. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Education if she will provide a detailed update on any audits carried out by the NCSE of a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34310/22]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.
It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
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.
As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and special school places are at unprecedented levels.
Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country, and particularly Dublin, where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of special class and special school places.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.
A range of strategic initiatives have been put in place with the NCSE in recent years to support and expand special educational needs provision in schools throughout the country.
These initiatives include enhanced arrangements for the planning and coordination of SEN provision requirements involving my Department, NCSE and key stakeholders such as Patrons and Management Bodies.
Our planning utilises the Department’s Geographic Information Management System (GIS) to support a strategic and coordinated approach to the delivery of SEN provision. This includes “real-time” data on capacity across the school system.
This has resulted in a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of each new school year.
I am satisfied that this approach is delivering.
This intensive intervention has seen over 300 special classes already opened nationwide for the 2021/22 school year as well as the establishment of two new special schools in Cork and Dublin last September.
This targeted approach will continue in identifying and meeting demand for special education placements throughout the country.
As Minister for Special Education and Inclusion, I recently announced that the Section 37A process to compel schools to increase SEN provision has been initiated for a third time and that this process is now underway.
The NCSE has formally written to me, as Minister of State, to advise me that it has formed an opinion that there is insufficient special class capacity in primary schools and special school capacity in Dublin. The second stage of the process is now complete. I have informed the NCSE in relation to planned additional provision of education for children with special educational needs and available land and buildings. The NCSE will now provide a detailed report on the matter to me, which will consider existing provision, any relevant proposed building works and which schools may be able to provide additional provision. In preparing this report, the legislation requires the NCSE to consult school patrons, national parent bodies, school management bodies and teacher unions. I have insisted that this be done as quickly as possible, and I expect that will be the case.
It would not be appropriate therefore for me to comment on NCSE's engagement with individual schools.
All parties would prefer to see schools volunteer to provide more places, rather than places being secured on the back of an order or a direction from the Minister. The evidence available in this school year is that schools are willing to work collaboratively with the Department and the NCSE on the provision of new school places for children with special educational needs.
I am grateful to all concerned for their ongoing work in this regard.
