Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2023
225. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education to provide assistance in the case of a person (details supplied); what other services and educational supports can be offered should this child not be able to obtain placement in any ASD unit for the 2024/2025 academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53201/23]
View answerEnabling 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, 14 are in Tipperary– 5 at primary and 9 at post-primary level – this brings the total of special classes in Co. Tipperary to 120.
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. Local special educational needs officers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs.
As your query refers to an individual placement case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
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.
