Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
396. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of secondary school ASD places available in Cork city and county for September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13607/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority 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.
In 2023, €2.6 billion was spent on special education and further progress will be made this year as an additional €113 million will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.
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 (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean there will be over 41,500 qualified and committed people in schools focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
Over the last number of 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 almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.
My department engage 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.
As a result of this forward planning, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
In December 2023, I was happy to announce, the establishment of a further four new special schools for the 2024/25 school year in Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years.
Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 390 new special classes – 254 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening this current school year.
Of these 76 are in Cork, 52 at primary level and 24 at post-primary level. This brings to 496 the number of special classes in County Cork, 351 at primary level and 145 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these class are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.
The attached document lists the autism classes sanctioned in Cork for the 2023/24 school year. Planning for special classes and special school places in County Cork and nationwide is currently underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. The locations of new classes for 2024/25 will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly.
As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.
My department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school. The department and the NCSE continue to have engagement with post-primary school management bodies in relation to the provision of special classes.
Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE's website at: www.ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list
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.
|
School Roll No. |
School Name |
No. of Classes |
|
62630J |
St. Aloysius School |
1 |
|
62693K |
Presentation Secondary School |
2 |
|
91499E |
Kinsale Community School |
6 |
|
62200H |
Coláiste Muire |
2 |
|
62540I |
Coláiste Eamann Rís |
5 |
|
62560O |
Colaiste Chriost Ri |
1 |
|
68263P |
Cork Educate Together Secondary School |
3 |
|
68264R |
Edmund Rice College |
3 |
|
71110H |
Nagle Community College |
3 |
|
91388S |
Carrigaline Community School |
4 |
|
62060R |
Bandon Grammar School |
2 |
|
62061T |
Colaiste Na Toirbhirte |
2 |
|
62170B |
Sacred Heart Secondary School |
1 |
|
62650P |
Ursuline Secondary School |
1 |
|
70910L |
Kinsale Campus, Cork College of FET |
3 |
|
70950A |
Clonakilty Community College |
2 |
|
91396R |
Douglas Community School, Clermont Avenue |
2 |
|
62090D |
Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal |
2 |
|
62530F |
North Monastery Secondary School |
3 |
|
62590A |
St. Vincent's Secondary School |
4 |
|
62621I |
Nano Nagle |
2 |
|
62730N |
St. Patrick's College |
2 |
|
71101G |
St. Aidan's Community College |
3 |
|
71123Q |
Terence Mac Swiney Community College |
2 |
|
91400F |
Mayfield Community School |
2 |
|
62310O |
De La Salle College |
3 |
|
68385G |
Le Cheile Ballincollig |
2 |
|
71030J |
McEgan College |
1 |
|
91386O |
Ballincollig Community School |
3 |
|
62210K |
Nagle Rice Seconday School |
3 |
|
62330U |
Patrician Academy |
2 |
|
62440E |
Scoil na mBráithre Chríostaí |
2 |
|
71020G |
Davis College |
3 |
|
76067L |
Colaiste Pobail N Mhuire |
1 |
|
81009B |
Boherbue Comp School |
4 |
|
76086P |
Maria Immaculata Comm College |
1 |
|
76090G |
Colaiste Pobail Bheanntraí |
1 |
|
91387Q |
Beara Community School |
2 |
|
91516B |
Skibbereen Community School |
2 |
|
62180E |
Colaiste Muire |
2 |
|
62360G |
Christian Brother's Sec School |
3 |
|
62380M |
St. Mary's High School |
3 |
|
70970G |
Cobh Community College |
3 |
|
71050P |
St. Colman's Community College |
4 |
|
76333G |
Carrigtwohill Community College |
2 |
