Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
356. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education to detail the best route forward for a school (details supplied) in terms of progressing their request for an identified ASD need within the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11626/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
The Department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.
I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department has no current record of receiving an application for additional accommodation from the school in question regarding provision of an ASD Unit.
The purpose of my Department’s Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme is to ensure that essential mainstream classroom accommodation and accommodation for pupils with special education needs is available to cater for pupils enrolled each year, where the need cannot be met by the school’s existing accommodation or at other schools in the area.
At primary level, this situation generally arises to cater for a school’s accommodation requirements where an additional teaching post has been sanctioned by Teacher Allocation Section, or the requirement for a new class for pupils with special education needs has been identified by the NCSE, and all available alternative accommodation within the school is already being used for classroom purposes. The capacity at other schools in the area is also considered as part of the assessment of any accommodation needs.
The Department is working closely with the NCSE in relation to forward planning for increased special education provision in the form of additional special classes and special school places. The Department continues to engage with NCSE in relation to special classes that have been sanctioned for September 2024 to confirm critical classes where accommodation is required while also considering the more strategic and longer-term requirements.
