Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Joan Collins for her questions. Before I get into the specifics of Dublin 12, it important when we are talking about special education to acknowledge the amount of significant progress that we have made. For example, since 2011, we have increased special classes by 386% in this country. This year, we have 2,118 special classes in Ireland. We also have 126 special schools.

In Dublin 12 specifically, we have 21 primary special classes, including two early intervention classes. We have six post-primary special classes, four of which are new this year. Obviously, there is ongoing engagement with schools as well. It is always open to a school to seek to open a special class through the National Council for Special Education.

One of the things that I have been doing over this year and last year is making sure that there is a streamlined approach and a targeted approach in relation to the opening of special classes. It is important to me, as the Minister of State with responsibility for special education, that no child goes without a special class. In that regard, it is important to say as well that the majority of schools in Dublin 12 the Deputy references have opened a special class.

Sometimes we trigger the section 37A mechanism to compel a school to open a special class in specific circumstances, but generally most special classes are opened without the need to do that. We would always try to collaborate rather than coerce a school into opening a special class. There are grants available for this purpose. For example, there is €6,500 available to schools for furniture and general equipment if they want to open a special class. This also relates to the inclusive culture we are trying to make sure is progressed when talking about children with additional needs.

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