Paul McAuliffe
Question:180. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Education to provide an update on the new ASD classes for a school (details supplied). [17100/24]
View answerThursday, 18 April 2024
Questions (180)
Written answers
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority 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 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.
In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs 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 these children.
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 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.
Any school, who expresses an interest in opening a special class is to be commended. However, for the 2024/25 school year, it may not be possible or appropriate to open new special classes in every school who expresses an interest or who has expressed a prior interest in opening a new class. In addition, some classes may not be needed for the coming school year but can remain an option if need arises in later years.
In general, demographics are falling at primary level and this trend is due to continue. Therefore the Department of Education in conjunction with the NCSE considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity in national schools within a general area in the first instance.
This consideration is prior to the establishment of any additional special class that may require additional accommodation e.g. modular accommodation.
This approach can enable a special class to be established more quickly for the coming academic year as it is not bound by the provision of additional accommodation. This then means that the educational needs of children who require a specialist placement can be met at more easily. It may also allow for the earlier re-configuration of existing accommodation to occur in a more streamlined and efficient manner.
This overall approach is consistent with the department’s commitment to supporting the educational needs of children who require specialist placements while at the same time meeting the requirements of the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.
Schools’ support for the establishment of special classes is most welcome. Where additional accommodation is indicated as being required, an analysis of both student demand and available accommodation in an area is required. In this regard, my department is working very closely with the NCSE to ensure that this required analysis is thoroughly explored with a view to providing the most immediate and cost effective accommodation solutions for the establishment of new special classes for the 2024/25 school year.
In some instances this analysis is complete and the appropriate accommodation solutions are being advanced. In the remaining cases, the outcome of the analysis is nearing completion and schools will be advised accordingly. Local special educational needs officers (SENOs) continue to engage with schools regarding the position and timing of the establishment of previously sanctioned new class.
The department and the NCSE are currently reviewing the overall demand for such provision in the area alongside the availability of space in local schools ahead of the 2024/25 school year. The locations of new classes for the 2024/25 school year will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
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.