Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 May 2020
211. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the provision of special needs places once the new school building is constructed for a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4455/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnsuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of my Department. Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs.
Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased almost threefold, from 548 to 1,618 for the 2019/2020 school year.
167 new special classes have been established nationally for 2019/20 school yea, of which 55 are post primary and 111 are primary.
A list of special classes for September 2019 is available on the NCSE website at:
https://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/NCSE-List-of-Special-Classes-for-September-2019.pdf
Budget 2020 provided for an additional 265 special class teachers in 2020, which will allow for the opening of additional classes where required.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide; has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents; and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school. In considering these applications, however, the NSCE, in conjunction with the school buildings unit of my Department, will be required to take into account the capacity of a school to establish such a class, including the provision of sufficient accommodation space within the school.
The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and school places nationally to meet identified need for next year. This process is ongoing.
The building project for the school referred to by the Deputy which is at tender stage, will include as part of the accommodation, a 2 classroom Special Education Needs Base.
The NCSE's Local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs in relation to specialised provision.
