Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 May 2023
71. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education if data is collected from schools on how many children they have enrolled with special educational needs in a mainstream setting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26544/23]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs 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 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 NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with SEN nationwide. Data on the number of children with special educational needs enrolled in special classes in mainstream schools and in special schools is collected by my Department and the NCSE.
In 2017 with the introduction of the new special education teacher allocation model (SET) the Department moved away from requiring a diagnosis to access educational supports in mainstream settings.
The allocation model, which was recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), is designed to distribute the total available number of Special Education Teachers across primary and post-primary schools based on the relative need of each school, as evidenced by a number of key indicators. The Model is based on the principle that those students with the greatest need receive the most support.
The SET allocation model, including the data and indicators used to inform the distribution of SET resources, is currently being reviewed in advance of the 2024/25 school year, to ensure that these valuable resources are allocated fairly and transparently across our primary and post primary schools.
My Department and the NCSE will continue to review the type of data collected on an ongoing basis.
