Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)

On special classes, as I outlined the intention is the earlier we can identify the need, the quicker we can engage with schools to make sure if there is a new build or modular building needed that can be put in place where there is room to readjust within the school. There is funding from €30,000 to €70,000 or €80,000 depending on whether there are structural or significant works that need to be done. There are set criteria for the allocation of a special education teacher and two SNAs for six children in the classroom. That applies in both primary and post-primary schools. The €30,000 can be used to retrofit or buy whatever resources are needed for within the classroom too, whether it is sensory needs or otherwise.

I have agreement to start rolling out the education therapy service in the current calendar school year. That means starting with special schools. The plan is up to 45 schools will be included in the first phase. We need to make sure we are hiring the speech and language therapists and the occupational therapists to fill those spaces. We have approval for that and I have been working closely with the NCSE, which will roll this out, and with the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, and the Minister, Deputy Foley, in their Departments. The intention for the timeline is that the school term 2025-26 will be up to 45 schools and phase 2 is the next year and beyond for the other schools and then phase 3 is the roll-out of all of them. It will be a gradual roll-out but I want to make sure that mainstream and special classes are getting access to these supports as quickly as possible. The work they are doing in our schools is very clear so it is not to take away from the children's disability network teams, CDNTs. This will be support provided directly to children in the classrooms while at the same time supporting their teachers and parents as well.

On the absenteeism rate, it is hugely alarming that the rate among young people, particularly in DEIS areas, is so high. The measures I announced a couple of weeks ago are to try to target that specifically, the key one being the Education (Welfare) Act to support children under six years. There is the roll-out of Anseo, which has already been piloted in four schools where we have gone into schools, helped them to look at their own data and situation – the children, school and the environment – to see if there is something that can be done to help with attendance rates overall. Speaking to someone from the education support service in Tusla, they said other schools are starting to mimic that already. Something as simple as the principal standing at the school gate welcoming students, saying their name, encouraging them and letting them know that people know who they are and they want them there, has actually led to a decrease in absenteeism rates. It is about all the ways we can encourage and support young people getting into school.