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

There are 3,000 special classes in the country. We have advanced planning and forward planning consistently. Every child known to the NCSE received a place last year and that will also be the case this September. I do not accept the argument that a significant amount of work has not been done or is not being done with regard to special classes in general. However, if the Deputies have a particular case, they can let me know about it and we will engage on it. I am not saying that anybody is wrong. I am saying I must refute the assertion that has been made to me on numerous occasions that there was no engagement or insufficient or improper engagement. Thirty meetings have been held as part of this development process and 12 of those consultation sessions were held with education partners. I am answering with regard to engagement and it is important that this is noted.

A review process is available. Schools can fill in an application form for a review on the NCSE website and submit it through the school portal. It is important that this is done. This new model provides a solid foundation for a roadmap of continuous enhancement over the coming years. No complex needs hours have been removed from the model. The hours have been reapportioned as an indicator of educational need. Complex needs are measured in two ways. First, those students who are performing at the lower levels in standardised tests that indicate the greatest level of need for additional learning support and, second, the pupils with more complex needs and who have been exempted are given the highest weighting within the model.

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