Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 October 2023

Tuesday, 24 October 2023

Questions (247, 248)

Alan Farrell

Question:

247. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education how many additional autistic classes were opened for the 2023-2024 school year nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46090/23]

Alan Farrell

Question:

248. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Education for a geographical breakdown of the number of new autistic classrooms that were opened for the 2023-2024 school year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46091/23]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education (Deputy Josepha Madigan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 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. Further progress has been made in Budget 2024 where 26% of my department’s budget will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs, representing a 5% increase on Budget 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 and in 2024 a further 744 teachers, and 1,216 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.

Over the last number of 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 almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.

My department engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, 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, earlier this year, Minister Foley and l announced the establishment of two special schools for the 2023/24 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.

Along with the two new special schools, 388 new special classes – 253 at primary and 135 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year. This brings the number of special classes nationwide to 2,919.

363 of these new classes sanctioned by the NCSE are autism classes – 236 in primary and 127 in post-primary – bringing the total of autism classes nationwide to 2,475.

The following table provides a breakdown of these classes by county:

County		Primary		Post Primary		Total
	No. of ASD Classes	No. of New ASD Classes for 23/24 School Year	No. of ASD Classes	No. of New ASD Classes for 23/24 School Year	Total No. of ASD Classes	Total No. of New ASD Classes for 23/24 school year
Carlow	29	6	16	2	45	8
Cavan	30	4	9	1	39	5
Clare	42	4	15	2	57	6
Cork	298	50	125	23	423	73
Donegal	53	9	39	5	92	14
Dublin	355	48	120	23	475	71
Galway	71	10	49	5	120	15
Kerry	43	4	25	4	68	8
Kildare	75	7	29	5	104	12
Kilkenny	27	4	16	5	43	9
Laois	39	4	15	3	54	7
Leitrim	12	5	11	1	23	6
Limerick	74	10	37	4	111	14
Longford	22	5	13	0	35	5
Louth	53	10	21	6	74	16
Mayo	36	5	16	2	52	7
Meath	87	15	32	7	119	22
Monaghan	18	1	11	1	29	2
Offaly	57	4	21	2	78	6
Roscommon	23	5	9	1	32	6
Sligo	11	1	12	3	23	4
Tipperary	62	5	42	9	104	14
Waterford	33	2	20	3	53	5
Westmeath	27	3	20	2	47	5
Wexford	54	9	28	3	82	12
Wicklow	64	6	29	5	93	11
Totals	1,695	236	780	127	2,475	363

Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is 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 at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list

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.

Question No. 248 answered with Question No. 247.