Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2024
352. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Education the number of schools in County Carlow which have applied for ASD units; the number which were successful; the reasons for which those that were not successful; the timeline on delivery of the units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16612/24]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
The Department engages 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. In planning and providing for additional school accommodation, the Department must also have regard to construction inflation pressures and competing demands on suppliers of modular accommodation and project management services.
It may not be possible or appropriate to open new special classes in every school who expresses an interest in opening a new class.
In general, demographics have been falling at primary level and are due to continue to decrease. Therefore, the Department considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity at primary level in the first instance, before considering any applications for further accommodation needs. This is in line with public spending requirements. In relation to the provision of primary special classes, the shared preference of both the Department and the NCSE is to use and reconfigure existing school accommodation to provide special classes. Given the number of primary special classes available already and the falling demographics, it is also likely that most of the new additional special classes may be required in larger population centres in a local school planning area.
At local level, the NCSE is currently reviewing the overall demand for such provision in the area alongside the availability of space in local schools. The NCSE and the Department continue to engage on a regular basis in relation to the provision of additional special education placements. This involves regular weekly meetings and ongoing meetings with NCSE regional teams.
Since 2020 my Department has received applications from 3 Post Primary schools and 15 primary schools under my Departments Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme for special classes in County Carlow.
15 school's applications were successful and details of all current Additional School Accommodation scheme projects are available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie.
3 applications are currently under consideration with 1 of these applications previously refused due to special class not being sanctioned by the NCSE. However, the NCSE have since sanctioned a class for this school and when the assessment process is finalised the school authorities will be contacted directly with a decision.
I can assure the Deputy that the provision of required school places, including for children with special educational needs, is a priority for my Department and officials are working to ensure that there is sufficient provision to meet the school place needs in the school in question and the wider School Planning Area for future years.
