Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

At the outset, I acknowledge the work of the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and our absolute determination to ensure appropriate provision for all students, irrespective of their abilities and capabilities, and ensure that all children and young people are provided for in the education system. The Minister of State is working extremely hard to make sure that becomes a reality and I am working very closely with her. Together we are committed entirely to ensuring there is proper provision for all of our students.

To specifically address the question around resources being made available, I want to be very clear to the Deputy that there is no question that the appropriate resources are not being provided to our schools. They are absolutely being provided. I assure the Deputy that the Department of Education and National Council for Special Education, NCSE, are 100% committed to resourcing schools to ensure they can provide for children with special educational needs. I am confident that is reflected in the work and what we see the length and breadth of this country in terms of excellent provision by schools in making the necessary provisions. As I said previously, my Department and the NCSE are working with schools to open at least 315 new special classes in mainstream schools for the coming year. Providing the necessary resources and supports is a huge part of this work. I will give the Deputy a flavour of the types of supports that are available.

Mainstream schools opening new special classes are informed in advance of the range of supports available both from my Department and the NCSE. The supports include the Department's planning and building unit being available to work closely with schools opening new special classes. The Department has a framework of contractors in place to facilitate necessary work in schools and all works, whether they involve reconfiguration, additional accommodation needs or whatever is required, are 100% funded by the Department of Education.

There is also the issue of staffing with the sanctioning of one additional teaching post at primary level or 1.5 additional teaching posts at post-primary and at least two SNAs for every special class of six children in place. There is a programme of professional support for schools with newly-established special classes, which is being developed by the NCSE. These supports include seminars for principals, four-day intensive training courses for teachers, two-day training courses for new teachers and whole-staff continuing professional development, CPD. The school is also linked with a NCSE adviser. There is, of course, the enhanced funding through increased capitation rates, a special class start-up grant and furniture and ICT grants. I want to be very clear about that.

We can see that so many schools right throughout the country are taking up the opportunity when it comes to provision of special classes. We already have 2,118 in place since the 2021-2022 school year and 2,433 will be in place for the 2022-2023 school year, catering for more than 14,500 pupils. Clearly, therefore, the supports are being provided. Again, there is a very open policy of working hand-in-hand with schools in terms of meeting and identifying the individual needs schools might have, but also putting in place the resources they require.

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