Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
499. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education if she will provide the precise forecasting on behalf of the National Council for Special Education regarding enrolments for the 2023/2024 academic year communicated to a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27406/23]
View answer500. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education following a meeting between representatives of a school (details supplied), the NCSE, and the school's special educational needs organiser (SENO) and regional manager, the viability of enrolling pupils with significant SEN as agreed ensuring the school received the required supports in terms of additional accommodation and staff resources to proceed with enrolling these pupils; if she will confirm whether the necessary supports have been approved; what these supports comprise of; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27407/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together.
I 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 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).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
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 on special education.
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, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
In 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 SNAs in our schools next year.
For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 SNAs. Together we will have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
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, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years.
My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
As a result of this forward planning, on the 12th of April, Minister Foley and I announced the establishment of 2 new special schools for the 2023/2024 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
Along with the two new special schools, 328 new special classes – 217 at primary and 111 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Of these new classes, 6 are in Co. Mayo, with 3 at primary level and 3 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Co. Mayo to 62.
As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my Department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
In October of last year, my Department wrote to all post-primary schools to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes. It is envisaged that all post-primary schools will be required to provide special classes over the next 3 to 5 years, with an approximate average of 4 special classes in each school.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews. The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations.
In relation to the school referred to by the deputy, the NCSE has advised my Department for the 2023/24 academic year, that the school has secured nine additional pupil enrolments so far. The 2022/23 school enrolment totalled 28 pupils, with no school leavers expected this June. The NCSE has released a revised teacher and SNA allocation to include seven Class Teaching posts and 18 SNA posts for the school as of May 26th, 2023. It is expected there may be an additional 2-3 enrolments over the summer months due to families relocating to Mayo.
My Department received an Additional School Accommodation (ASA) application from the school on 15th March 2023. The school looked for 3 additional classrooms to cater for additional Special Education Needs pupils expected to enrol at the school. As part of the assessment process, it was necessary to engage with the NCSE. The NCSE subsequently met with school representatives and, on the basis of the NCSE recommendation, my Department has approved 2 modular classrooms. This decision was conveyed to the school on 28th April 2023.
My Department is very cognisant of the needs of the school and a priority for my Department is the provision of accommodation for children with special educational needs. In that context, my Department is working to deliver the accommodation for the school as soon as possible.
