Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
223. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education what measures are in place to assist mainstream schools who are catering for children with additional educational needs, to ensure that these children can attend their local school along with their siblings where this is the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53195/23]
View answerEnabling 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 2024/2025 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.
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.
There are currently 2,915 special classes opened nationwide, with 2,045 at primary and 870 at post-primary level.
This will bring to over 2,000 the total number of primary special classes, the vast majority of which are to support children with autism.
This level of provision ensures that there is sufficient special classes provided across the country to allow children access a class placement in their local area.
However, it is simply not possible to open a special class in every school, and therefore, it is important that where available places in local special classes exist, that these places are filled in the first instance before any decision is made to open additional special classes.
A range of supports designed to support children with special educational needs are available, including;
The school transport scheme for children with special education needs which provides free school transport to eligible children with diagnosed disabilities and can include the provision of additional transport assistance such as escorts or the provision of specific or individual transport arrangements.
The assistive technology scheme where funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes. All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment.
To offer longitudinal support to children with certain sensory conditions, the visiting teaching service under the NCSE is available. This service provides qualified teachers, who have particular skills and knowledge of the development and education of children to support the child, the school and parents.
My Department has also developed school building guidelines based on the principle of universal design to ensure that children and young people can access school buildings and attend school with their peers.
These supports underline the aim of my department in ensuring every child is allocated a suitable school placement appropriate to their needs.
I wish to assure the Deputy 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.
