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Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 May 2018

Tuesday, 1 May 2018

Ceisteanna (129)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

129. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that has been allocated to schools in north County Dublin by catchment area for the provision of ASD units; the amount of this funding that has been drawn down by school; the amount each school will spend in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18616/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department’s policy is that children with special educational needs including those with autism, 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. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for approving special classes, including ASD classes.

With regard to Co. Dublin in particular, there are 37 special schools and 218 special classes attached to mainstream schools. Of these, 18 are ASD early intervention classes, 124 are primary ASD classes and 36 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Dublin have increased from 66 in 2011/2012 to 178 in 2017/2018.

Where the NCSE approves an ASD class in a mainstream school, it is open to the school in question to submit an application for additional accommodation to my Department should there be a deficit of accommodation in the school.

I also wish to advise the Deputy that it is general practice to include a Special Needs Unit (SNUs) in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required.

In this regard, the provision of such units may form part of the overall project brief that also includes other accommodation for a school. Therefore, it is not possible to isolate the costs associated specifically for these units. Furthermore, given the site specific issues that may arise during the statutory process and construction stages it is not possible to specify the level of expenditure for the coming years.

I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department has set out on its website details of projects approved, including projects in North County Dublin, under the Additional School Accommodation Scheme at www.education.ie – Building Works.

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