Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 May 2024
44. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Education the steps her Department is taking to target a shortage of special needs units and early prevention units in national schools throughout Ireland, and particularly in the areas of Cavan and Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22014/24]
View answerEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority 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.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
Almost 300 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE nationwide for the 2024/25 school year, and of these 6 are in County Cavan and 4 in County Monaghan. This is in addition to the almost 3,000 special classes already in operation.
The vast majority of these new classes are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6. The NCSE continue to sanction further special classes for the coming school year.
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 education needs officers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs on placement options and the various supports available. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE's website.
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.
As a result of this forward planning, 1,300 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE and seven new special schools have been established in recent years. In addition, four new special schools will be established for the 2024/25 school year in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick.
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, 300 additional special school places and will increase the number of teaching and SNA posts.
An additional 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 these children.
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.
