Cathal Crowe
Question:107. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Education if she will sanction an additional autism class at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52578/23]
View answerThursday, 30 November 2023
Questions (107)
Written answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive a high quality, appropriate 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.
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, 384 new special classes – 251 at primary and 133 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year.
Of these, 7 are in Clare – 5 at primary and 2 at post-primary level – this brings the total of special classes in Co. Clare to 68, 51 at primary and 17 at post primary level.
The NCSE has advised my department that the school referred to by the Deputy has expressed an interest in opening a special class.
The NCSE actively encourages expressions of interest from schools to open special classes, and I appreciate and commend the efforts taken by the Board of Management in expressing their interest.
Upon assessing the needs in the local area, the NCSE identified that there were schools in the neighbouring vicinity with available special class vacancies and, as such, an additional special class is not required in this school at this time.
The NCSE acknowledge that circumstances may change, and they are committed to ensuring that both the parents and the school receive the necessary advice and support. The NCSE continue to monitor the needs in the area at a local level.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.