Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
271. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education how many preschool autistic classes have been sanctioned nationally in the school years 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2023/24; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33689/23]
View answer272. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education how many pre-school autism classes will be in operation for the school year 2023-24 in Waterford; their locations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33690/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 271 and 272 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 has been 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.
For the first time ever there will be over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 SNAs. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The State supports early intervention for children with special educational needs through providing funding to a number of crèche/early years settings including:
• Early Intervention (EI) classes in mainstream and special schools
• Home Tuition Grant Scheme for children aged between 3 and 4 years of age with a diagnosis of autism where a placement in an EI setting is not available
• EI settings in Health Service Executive (HSE) funded service providers
• Early years settings supported by the Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme (ECCE) and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM)
• Early years settings supported by HSE grant aid or HSE funded Pre-School Assistant.
In relation to EI classes in mainstream and special schools the NCSE sanctions the establishment of EI classes where there is an identified need.
EI classes are available for children aged 3-5 with autism. Classes follow the junior/senior infant day i.e. 4 hours 40 minutes each day. Schools, in consultation with parents, may reduce the length of the school day for 3 year olds who are unable to manage a full day in the EI setting.
EI classes are intended to provide early support for children with autism before they start school. Following EI, children will attend a mainstream class unless there is professional guidance that they require a special class.
A child’s attendance in an EI class is not, and should not, be taken as an indication that the child will require access to a special class when he/she enrols in primary school.
There are currently 158 EI classes sanctioned nationally for the 2023/24 school year, 14 of which are new for 2023/24.
As of 31 Mar 2023, there were
|
Year |
EI classes |
|
2020 |
135 |
|
2021 |
133 |
|
2022 |
151 |
Per the NCSE special class list for September 2023 published on 23 June, there are two EI autism classes in Waterford; one in Passage East and one in Dungarvan .
Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes are published on the NCSE website available at www.ncse.ie/special-classes
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE’s website: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
The SENO will be able to inform the parent as to where EI classes are and the criteria for entry. They will also be able to offer further assistance in applying for the Home Tuition Grant Scheme in cases where there aren’t any suitable EI placements available.
The purpose of the Home Tuition Grant Scheme is to provide a compensatory educational service for children who, for a number of reasons, are unable to attend school. Parents use the grant to engage tutors to deliver tuition in their home, subject to the terms of the scheme.
The Home Tuition Grant Schemes are governed by annual circulars which sets out the purpose, eligibility criteria and details of the scheme. Circular 0046/2022 provides information in relation to the 2022/23 Home Tuition Grant Scheme and can be accessed on gov.ie through the following link: www.gov.ie/en/circular/22b2a-home-tuition-grant-scheme-20222023-special-education-component/
I wish to assure you that my department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
