John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. I apologise on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Joe McHugh, who was not able to make it on time. I am taking the matter on his behalf.

We are investing heavily in supporting our children with special educational needs, with €1.8 billion being spent annually, almost €1 in every €5 of the education budget. This includes an allocation of over €300 million towards providing additional resources specifically to support students with autism in schools.

The number of special classes across the country has increased from 548 in 2011 to 1,459 now. Almost 1,200 of these classes are autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special classes. The National Council for Special education, NCSE, an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, co-ordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs. The council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements. Individual school boards of management are responsible for the establishment of special classes. It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE to establish a class. When the NCSE sanctions the establishment of a special class or the expansion of special provision in a school, the school can apply to the Department for capital funding to reconfigure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class or construct additional accommodation. Where families are experiencing difficulty in securing a placement for their child, it is recommended that they work closely with the NCSE's teams of locally based special education needs organisers, SENOs, who will assist and advise them. SENOs also advise schools.

The council is actively engaging with schools, school patrons, parents, NEPS, health professionals and others involved in the provision of services for children with special educational needs to ensure each child has a school placement appropriate to his or her needs for the 2019-20 school year. The NCSE and an official of my Department met a group of parents from the Dublin 15 area on Friday, 12 April 2019. The NCSE has been in contact with advocacy groups in the Dublin 6 and 6W areas and I have been advised that a meeting will be arranged in the coming weeks.

Let me get to the core of this because the Deputies will have a number of questions for me. It may be of some help for them to note the Department has arranged an information session for 14 May at 3 p.m. in the audiovisual room for all Oireachtas Members regarding ASD provision nationwide. The NCSE and officials from the Department will be in attendance. It has been agreed that council representatives will attend the next public meeting held by the group. I was advised just a few minutes before coming in here that the public meeting has been arranged for 29 April 2019. Members will be invited. This may allay the Deputies' fears that no action is being taken. There are two meetings planned. The Department is planning to ensure children without a suitable placement for next year are provided with a suitable one.

See this speech in context