Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy for raising the question and for giving me the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department of Education and Youth and the NCSE are committed to ensuring all children can access an education suitable to their needs. The Department of Education and Youth continues to engage intensely with the NCSE on forward planning for new special provision to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting best fitted for their educational need. It is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Where a special school is deemed more appropriate, the options are being kept open in that regard.

The establishment of mild general learning disability, MGLD, special schools predated the significant expansion in the range of supports offered in mainstream schools through additional special education, teaching and special needs assistant resources, and through the rapid expansion in special class provision. There are now over 28,000 children being supported in special schools and classes, with the number of special classes increasing by 103% since 2020. Examining the designation of special schools is not about limiting the options of any child; it is about creating options and ensuring that children with more complex needs are afforded the opportunity to attend their school with other local children. This means there will be a variety of different needs accommodated in the school, not just children with one particular need. In my previous response I made the pint that the NCSE reports that over half of these mild general learning disability special schools have since diversified. Diversification is the key word. It is about ensuring that these schools that previously only catered for children with mild general learning disabilities will now cater for more. That is key.

Deputy Whitmore mentioned the level of consultation. The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is in the office next to me. He has spent a lot of time and is dedicated to consulting with the special schools but consulting with parents as well, which is really important. That is something that has happened. I am very sure I can stand over that statement with a fair degree of confidence. I totally accept the points raised and I will relate what was said here back to the Minister of State.

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