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Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2020

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Ceisteanna (618)

Jackie Cahill

Ceist:

618. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, units within schools in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15355/20]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

There are currently 68 special classes for children with autism in Co. Tipperary, of which 46 are primary and 22 are post primary.

A list of special classes for the current school year, including special classes for children with autism, is available on the NCSE website http://www.ncse.ie/.

Ensuring 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. Budget 2020 provided for an additional 265 special class teachers in 2020, which will allow for the opening of additional classes where required.

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.

The National Council for Special Education (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.

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.

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. My Department works closely with the NCSE in this regard.

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. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: https://ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list.

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