Holly Cairns
Question:654. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education if she will meet with a group (details supplied) concerning the establishment of a special needs school in the Cork south west. [12773/23]
View answerTuesday, 21 March 2023
Questions (654)
Written answers
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling 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 & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and to their schools..
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.
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 the last two to three years, my Department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level and almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level. Specifically for Cork, the NCSE has sanctioned 103 new special classes at primary level and 46 new special classes at post-primary level over the last 3 years.
In addition, 3 new special schools have been opened in recent years and 2 further special schools are due to be opened during this school year.
2 of these special schools are in the Cork region. Carrigaline Community Special School opened in 2021 and Rochestown Community Special School is due to open later in the current school year.
My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places for the next school year 2023/2024. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class and special school places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
At local level, the NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes in both mainstream and special schools for the next school year 2023/2024. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe.
As the NCSE are responsible for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs, I would advise the Deputy that the group referred to should liaise with the NCSE initially in relation to existing special school capacity and the potential need to expand special school capacity.
My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential.