Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

I thank Deputy Feighan. I am taking this Adjournment Matter on behalf of my colleague, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, Minister for Education and Science. The outreach classes referred to by Deputy Feighan are attached to St. Joseph's Special School, Ballytivnan, County Sligo. The children attending these outreach classes have a diagnosis of moderate to severe to profound general learning disability or multiple disabilities. The current staffing allocated to these outreach classes consists of two teaching posts and five special needs assistant posts to cater for the special educational needs of the 11 pupils attending the classes.

The Government is committed to ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum. The Department's policy is to ensure the maximum possible integration of children with special educational needs into ordinary mainstream schools within the child's community where this is in the best interests of the child and those with whom he or she is to be educated. However, there may be circumstances where full integration is not in the best interests of some children. In these cases provision is made in special schools or special classes attached to mainstream schools.

Such special schools and special classes are dedicated to a particular disability group and each operates at a specially reduced pupil-teacher ratio. These special schools and special classes attract higher rates of capitation funding and are entitled to avail of the special school transport service and the school bus escort service.

The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, through the local special educational needs organisers, is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. The NCSE operates within the Department's criteria in allocating such support. The responsibility also includes identifying appropriate educational placement for individual children with special educational needs.

Officials in the Department of Education and Science have been in contact with the NCSE regarding the matter raised by Deputy Feighan. The NCSE has informed the Department that the school has been liaising with the local special educational needs organiser regarding the possibility of establishing the special classes at an alternative location. The NCSE has advised that it is currently considering the matter and is continuing to liaise with the school authorities in this regard.

Priority will continue to be given to provision for children with special educational needs. The Government will build on the progress achieved in recent years which has seen a huge increase in resources for special needs. The NCSE will continue to support schools, parents, children and teachers. I thank Deputy Feighan for giving me the opportunity to clarify the position and to indicate that the local special educational needs organiser is endeavouring to resolve the issue.

See this speech in context