Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024
503. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Education the number of Church of Ireland patronage national schools that have been funded for SEN capital development, by county, in tabular form; and the timeframe for the data would be most beneficial such as the past five or ten years. [14726/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe key drivers of capital investment in the school sector are as follows:
• demographic growth, particularly at post primary level
• increased demand for special educational needs provision
• alignment of school place provision with new housing development
• climate action objectives including deep energy retrofit.
Enabling 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.
The NCSE is responsible for planning and coordinating special education provision at both a local and a national level and advising my Department in this regard. In recent years, my Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year.
Through this alignment and integration of NCSE and Departmental planning and forecasting processes at both national and local level, my Department works to ensure that specialist education places come on stream to meet emerging demand on a timely basis.
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. This planning is part of an integrated and coordinated approach to school accommodation needs across every area.
Since 2018, eight Church of Ireland National Schools had projects completed where the brief included the provision of special education needs (SEN) accommodation. There are two Church of Ireland National School projects currently on site where the brief includes the provision of SEN accommodation and a further four Church of Ireland National School projects are in architectural planning where the brief includes the provision of SEN accommodation. See table below.
|
County |
No of SEN Accommodation projects complete or ongoing since 2018 |
|
Carlow |
1 |
|
Clare |
1 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
|
Dublin |
3 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
|
Laois |
1 |
|
Louth |
1 |
|
Mayo |
1 |
|
Meath |
2 |
|
Wexford |
1 |
|
Wicklow |
1 |
|
Total |
14 |
