Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 29 February 2024
201. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Education if, as part of the significant upgrade to a school (details supplied), special classrooms were sanctioned; if those classrooms are currently available for students with special needs; if not, if she will direct the school to provide those classrooms in the event there is demand in the area for them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9860/24]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.
When the NCSE sanction a special class in a school (primary or post-primary), school authorities can apply to my Department for capital funding to re-configure an existing space within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA).
Over the last number of years, the Department of Education 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.
The department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. 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.
My department's focus is on the most critical needs for the next school year and how each individual school’s accommodation can be best utilised. It is very important that capacity in existing schools and across a town or area is maximised to the greatest extent possible . This includes ensuring that all school accommodation is being utilised as efficiently as possible, and that priority is given to the use of accommodation for classroom purposes, either to meet mainstream or special educational needs.
A large scale project to provide refurbished and extended accommodation for 750 students at the school in question has been recently completed. Although special class accommodation was not specified in the original brief for this project, the Department secured agreement from the school to utilise some of the provided accommodation for special class purposes.
The Department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places, including across Wicklow, and also the more strategic and longer-term requirements.
