Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2019
196. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the process by which the National Council for Special Education fulfils its statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with autism spectrum disorder includes a mechanism to determine the number of places needed nationally on an annual basis in advance of the school year. [10578/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special education (NCSE), an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs in consultation with the relevant education partners, the Health Service Executive (HSE) and Parents.
This includes identifying the number of children that will require special classes or special school placements. The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), plans on an annual basis and long term basis to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
Individual school boards of management are responsible for the establishment of special classes. It is open to any school to make application to the NCSE to establish a class. In deciding where to establish a special class in an area, the NCSE takes account of the current and projected demand and the available school accommodation both current and planned. In this regard, the SENO may approach individual schools to discuss the matter with a view to finding the optimal location in terms of convenience and sustainability.
When the NCSE sanctions a special class in a school, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding to reconfigure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation.
Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) who are locally based are available to assist and advise parents whose children have special needs. Where Parents have been unsuccessful in enrolling their child in a school, they should update their local SENO to inform the planning process.
SENOs are also available to assist and advise schools on special education supports and planning.
There are now 1,459 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011. Of these 1,196 are ASD special classes.
124 special schools also provide specialist education for those students with complex special educational needs.
