Holly Cairns
Ceist:619. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education to examine the possibility of using a school (details supplied), which closed in June 2022, as a special school for west Cork. [28588/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 13 June 2023
Ceisteanna (619)
Freagraí scríofa
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.
For 2023, the spend by my department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.
This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.
This includes funding to support children with special educational needs in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers, special needs assistants.
The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.
Over the last two to three years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
These initiatives are bearing fruit with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years.
Over the last two to three years, my department and the NCSE have worked with school patron bodies to open five new special schools, 2 of these are in Cork – Carrigaline Community Special School and Rochestown Community Special School. The newest of these schools, Rochestown Community Special School opened recently and has enrolled 25 children. It is envisaged that this new special school will grow to accommodate over 60 students over the next few years.
This brings to 15 the number of special schools located in County Cork, which for September 2022 had provisional enrolment for 952 children.
Recently on 12th April, Minister Foley and l announced the establishment of a further special school which will be established in Carrigtwohill, east Cork.
In addition, 328 new special classes – 217 at primary and 111 at post-primary level - have also been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
Of these new classes, 71 are in Co. Cork, with 53 at primary level and 18 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Cork to 492.
The Deputy references the issue of establishing a new special school in West Cork specifically, and I want to assure you that both my department and the NCSE will continue to monitor and review the need for further new special schools or the expansion of existing special schools over the coming months and years.
It is particularly important to consider the distances that some of our students are travelling in order to access a special school placement, and this is a key consideration when we decide to establish any new special school or expand provision in an existing special school.
I want to reassure you also that 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.