Special Educational Needs

Wednesday, 1 June 2022

Ceisteanna (147, 148)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Ceist:

147. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the details of the proposed opening of special education centres for children with special educational needs. [28247/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

148. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education if she will meet with opposition spokespersons and local Deputies to provide a briefing on the proposed opening of special education centres in Dublin. [28248/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education

I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 148 together.

Special Education has been prioritised by Government in recent years.

This year, the Department of Education will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs.

This represents an increase of over 60% in total expenditure, since 2011.

This will bring the total number of Special Education Teachers in the mainstream school system to 14,385 in 2022, an increase of 48% since 2011 when 10,575 were funded.

An additional 380 teachers are also being provided to support students to be enrolled in new special classes and new special schools for the 2022/2023 school year.

Over 1,700 additional places in 287 new special classes will become available in 2022. Since 2011, the number of special classes has increased by 386%. Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased from 548 to 2,148 for the 2021/2022 school year.

Provision has been made for 19,169 SNAs by the end of 2022, which will represent an increase of 81% since 2011.

My Department and the NCSE are working closely to maximise the number of new special classes that can be established in Dublin for the start of 2022/23 school year.

As an interim measure and to provide additional educational supports to those children awaiting a special class placement the Department of Education is considering a draft proposal to open a number of temporary special education centres in Dublin across strategic locations in close co-operation with the Education and Training Boards in Dublin (City of Dublin ETB and Dublin Dun Laoghaire ETB).

This draft proposal is very much a temporary option for those children who are awaiting a placement in a special class in a mainstream school. It is envisaged that this draft proposal, which would be voluntary for parents/guardians and children could present a more suitable option than Home Tuition for some children as they await a special class placement. Many of these families are having difficulties in securing a tutor for this work. Families would now have access to an alternative to Home Tuition providing them with

1. Access to fully qualified teachers removing the burden of sourcing an appropriately qualified home tutor

2. An opportunity for their child(ren) to interact with their peers and access education in a school/classroom environment which is ‘out-of-home’

3. Integration opportunities, where possible, on a case by case basis.

It is envisaged that these centres would follow the standard school day and school year. It is intended that the Centres will be located to facilitate engagement with local schools with a view to optimising integration opportunities for children in local schools. Integration and transition arrangements for local schools and the SEN Centres will be developed by the NCSE in conjunction with the Inspectorate and NEPs. These arrangements will be kept under continuing review by the ETBs, the Department and the NCSE.

The Centres would also be located in areas where additional special class provision is due to come on stream as various building projects progress.

I must highlight that this proposal is very much at an early stage and further significant work is required to progress the proposal and further work is required in relation to engaging with key stakeholders and advocacy groups on the draft proposal. A further meeting with advocacy groups on the draft proposal is scheduled for later this week.

Families can be assured that the Department and NCSE remain committed to opening special classes as quickly as possible and this proposal is offered as a child and family centred interim solution.

Question No. 148 answered with Question No. 147.