Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
224. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education when an application to the NCSE to open an ASD class from a school in Donegal (details supplied) will be approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53196/23]
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.
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.
384 new special classes – 251 at primary and 133 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening this school year.
Of these new classes, 17 are in Donegal, with 10 at primary level and 7 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Co. Donegal to 114, 67 at primary and 47 at post-primary.
The NCSE has advised my department that the school referred to by the Deputy expressed an interest in opening a special class in March this year.
The NCSE actively encourages expressions of interest from schools to open special classes, and I appreciate the effort 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 area 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 need at a local level in the area.
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.
