Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
206. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which adequate primary and second-level special needs school places are available to meet such requirements throughout north County Kildare; if he expects to be able to meet such demand in full in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2965/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding for special education provision in 2018 amounted to some €1.75 billion, up 43% since 2011 and equivalent to 18.7% of the gross overall allocation for education and training.
My Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated.
The greater proportion of children with special educational needs attend mainstream classes, but some require the environment of a special class or special school. The placement decision is based on a recommendation contained within a professional assessment.
Special school placements are provided for other students with very complex special needs who wouldn’t manage in a mainstream school even for part of the week.
The NCSE is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers (SENOs), for the development and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special class and special school placements.
Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of special classes from 548 in 2011 to 1,459 across the country now.
The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year, including in Co Kildare, and where special provision, including special class provision, is required, it is planned and established to meet that need. This process is ongoing.
My Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children including Children in Co. Kildare who will require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.
There are 4 special schools and 75 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Kildare. Of these, 57 are primary classes and 18 are post primary classes. A total of 160 new special classes have been opened for the 2018/19 school year. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available on www.ncse.ie.
My Department is aware that the establishment of special class provision in some schools and communities can be challenging.
The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 will assist in addressing this issue in areas where the NCSE is of the opinion that there is insufficient education provision for children with special educational needs.
Section 8 of the Act, which commenced from Monday 3rd December 2018, provides the Minister with a power, after a process of consultation with the NCSE, the board of management and the patron of the school, to compel a school to make additional provision for the education of children with special educational needs.
