Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2023
380. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if she will look at a case (details supplied) whereby a child with autism has been out of school since March this year and is unable to find a school place for the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40632/23]
View answerSection 29 of the Education Act, 1998 provides for an appeal through an independent appeals board by a parent or guardian, where a Board of Management of a school, or a person acting on behalf of the Board, refuses to enrol a student in a school. Further information on the Section 29 appeals process is available on the Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/90de23-appeal-against-permanent-exclusion-suspension-or-refusal-to-enrol/.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.The NCSE’s Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly here: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list . I want to assure you also that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools ensuring that these students can access education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource. The deployment of SNAs within schools is a matter for the individual Principal/Board of Management of the school. SNAs should be deployed by the school in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.
It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.
The school can apply to the NCSE for a review of its SNA allocation if it is insufficient to meet the needs of its students.
Detailed information on the NCSE Exceptional Review process is published on the NCSE website. ncse.ie/application-for-sna-exceptional-review .
All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, and the SENO is available to offer assistance and advice to the school. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie .
The NCSE have published the SNA allocations for the 2023/24 school year and they are available at ncse.ie/set-hours-and-sna-allocations
The Department does not have a role in making individual school determinations and the school should liaise with the NCSE directly in the event that additional supports are required.
