Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 July 2020
484. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the refusal to facilitate the establishment of an ASD class at a school (details supplied) for eight students that cannot be accommodated in September 2020 will be reversed in view of the time constraints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18641/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecial Schools funded by my Department are established as special primary schools and cater for children and young persons with complex special educational needs from the age of 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.
Provision in our 124 special schools has increased from 6,848 placements in 2011 to 7,872 this year.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department.
Since 2012, special schools are staffed on the basis of individual pupil profile and the disability categorisations of those pupils, as opposed to being based primarily on school designation, in accordance with my Department's most recent Circular 0032/2019 - Appointment of Administrative Deputy Principal and Staffing in Special Schools.
It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of 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 liaises with the school buildings unit of my Department regarding the availability of suitable accommodation in the school. However, my Department is not involved in adjudicating on applications received by the NCSE from schools. Accordingly, the question is being referred to the NCSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
