Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:403. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education if a review of ASD classrooms in the Dublin 2 and 4 areas will be conducted urgently. [6434/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 10 February 2021
Ceisteanna (403, 404)
Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:404. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Education her plans to conduct a section 37A review of schools in the Dublin 2 and 4 areas. [6435/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 403 and 404 together.
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. The Department of Education will spend approximately €2 Billion or over 20% of its total educational budget in 2021 on making additional provision for children with special educational needs this year.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. It has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents. NCSE seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special education placements.
NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and special school places nationally, to meet identified need. This process is ongoing. Through better planning at both national and local level, it is my objective that specialist education places should come on stream to meet emerging demand on a timely basis. However, the active collaboration of school communities is essential in this regard.
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.
Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.
As Minister, I have powers under Section 37A of the Education Act to direct a school to provide additional places but this power is only used as a last resort and where all reasonable efforts have failed.
In 2020, having considered a report submitted by the NCSE which identified a need for special education placements in South Dublin, the then Minister served statutory notices under Section 37A on 39 schools in the area.
This legal process is still underway and it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this stage. However, I would like to reassure the Deputy that progress is being made and my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
I can also reassure the Deputy that the local SENOs continue to be available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs.