Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for the questions and for giving me an opportunity to outline how the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education continue to support children with special educational needs. Enabling students with additional needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is an ongoing priority for the Government. It is a priority to ensure all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to schools to cater for the needs of children with special educational needs. In 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, which is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, among other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.

The NCSE has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. Over recent years, the Department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient mainstream and special classes and special school places. These initiatives are bearing fruit, with more than 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the past four years.

The Department engages intensively with the NCSE on the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well under way ahead of the 2024-25 school year. The work involves a detailed review of statistical data in respect of forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, a consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a special focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

Along with two new special schools opening this school year, 390 new special classes, comprising 254 at primary and 136 at post-primary level, have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening this school year. Of these, 18 are in Louth, comprising 12 at primary level and six at post-primary level, and 14 are in Tipperary, comprising five at primary and nine at post-primary level. This brings to 88 and 120, respectively, the numbers of special classes in each county.

Any school that seeks to open a special class or, indeed, a further class is to be commended. The efforts of schools in doing so are appreciated, but it may not be possible or appropriate to open classes in every school that expresses or has previously expressed an interest. Classes not sanctioned for this coming school year will remain as options should the need arise in later years. The Department, in conjunction with the NCSE, considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing accommodation in schools, within geographic areas, in the first instance. This consideration is prior to the establishment of any additional special class that may require additional accommodation, such as modular accommodation.

I will now provide an update on the specific schools the Deputies referred to. In respect of St. Michael’s Junior Boys School in Tipperary town, the NCSE advises the Department that this school expressed an interest in opening a special class and that there remain available special class places in established classes in Tipperary town and the wider area for the 2024-25 school year. The NCSE will continue to review this on an ongoing basis and will remain in contact at local level with the individual schools and, indeed, parents seeking a special class placement.

As for Burncourt National School in Cahir, the NCSE advises the Department that the school can now accommodate additional special class students within existing school accommodation for the coming school year. The need for any additional accommodation will be kept under review.

In the case of Scoil Mhuire in Newcastle, Clonmel, the Department approved a project under the additional school accommodation scheme for a special class. The project has been devolved for delivery to the school authority and it appointed a design team to oversee delivery of the project. Following difficulties experienced by the school in renting interim modular accommodation, the Department approved funding for the short-term rental of the local community hall. The Department also subsequently approved an application for an increased scope of the project to provide two special classes with central activity space. I am pleased to advise that the project has secured planning approval and the architectural report is being reviewed by the Department. The Department will continue to engage directly with the school to provide whatever practical assistance and advice are necessary to implement this important project for the wider school community.

I will follow up with information on the Dundalk project.

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