Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 October 2017
104. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of work ongoing in County Kildare to provide additional ASD places at secondary level with particular reference to a specific area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43175/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department’s policy is that children with special educational needs should be included in mainstream placements with additional supports provided, unless such a placement would not be in their best interests or in the interests of the children with whom they are to be educated, as is provided for under Section 2 of the Education of Persons with Special Needs Act 2004.
Some children may be supported in a special class attached to a mainstream school which offers a supportive learning environment to students who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class. These students have the option, where appropriate, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils.
Other children may have such complex needs that the recommendation in their professional reports state that they are best placed in a special school. The Department, therefore, provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools in Co. Kildare, which have enrolled pupils with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is a separate independent statutory body whose functions include planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs in conjunction with schools and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports as required, which includes the establishment of special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools.
The SENOs are available to assist parents to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs and to discuss their child's special educational needs.
The NCSE have established an additional 169 Special Classes for the 2017/18 school year of which 149 are ASD classes. Of these, in Co. Kildare, the NCSE have opened an additional 4 special classes consisting of 1 Primary ASD special class and 3 Post Primary ASD special classes.
The number of ASD special classes in Kildare have increased from 17 in 2011/2012 to 65 in 2017/2018, a 282% increase. This compares to a 215% increase in the number of ASD special classes nationally or 110% increase in the number of overall special classes nationally.
In addition, Special Needs Units (SNUs) are currently under construction at 3 schools including St Conleth’s Vocational School, Newbridge, Ard Scoil na Trionoide, Athy and Ballymanny Junior NS, Newbridge.
Major building projects for a number of Post Primary schools in Kildare are included on the Department's 6 Year Construction Plan, and Special Needs units (SNUs) will be included in these Developments. The schools in question are:
- St Paul’s Secondary School, Monasterevin
- Naas Community College, Naas
- Cross & Passion College, Kilcullen
- Athy Community College
- St Farnan’s Post Primary, Prosperous
- Patrician Post-Primary, Newbridge
Pupils transitioning from primary schools’ special classes for pupils with ASD and special classes for pupils with Severe/Profound Learning Disability can be catered for either through placement in special classes for pupils with ASD in post primary schools or in one of the four special schools in Co. Kildare i.e. St Mark’s, St Anne’s, Saplings Special School in Kill or St Raphael's in Celbridge.
The NCSE has informed the Department that they are continuing to monitor demand and liaise with the schools in the area to ensure that places will be available for students with ASD.
The Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.
Parents/Guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.
