Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 October 2020

Tuesday, 6 October 2020

Ceisteanna (442)

Chris Andrews

Ceist:

442. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Education if a newly built school (details supplied) was compelled to open a special needs class; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28147/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

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.

Children with special educational needs are supported through placement in mainstream classes, special classes and special schools. At school, they receive a range of supports provided by teachers and SNAs. Other professional supports, including training for teachers, are provided by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to enable each school provide a holistic educational experience for each child. The HSE is responsible for the delivery of therapeutic supports.

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 education placements. The NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and school places nationally to meet identified need. 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. School transport is also available. My Department works closely with the NCSE in this regard.

The school to which the Deputy refers opened as a 24 classroom school in September, 2019. While specific special class accommodation was not provided in the school, 8 Special Education Teaching (SET) rooms and 1 Resource Room were provided. Due to site constraints, it is not possible to construct additional accommodation on the site.