Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. He is correct that the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Madigan, who has responsibility for special needs, has met stakeholders. Last night, I spoke to her to get the most recent update for the Senator. She is in County Mayo; otherwise she would be here in person. I have a similar school in my constituency and I am well aware of the sheer positivity that a well-run school of that nature and with that level of support provides to autistic children and their families.

The Senator mentioned space and quiet. For children with additional sensory needs who require some extra space, the design of their school is very important and facilities around the school are just as important as specific facilities in the school such as occupational therapy. It is crucially important that the Oireachtas recognise the need to provide better services for autistic children and ensure the practical effects of that are felt through the progression of a school by the Department.

The Joint Committee on Autism, chaired by Senator Micheál Carrigy, published an interim report last December. I was a member of that committee until recently. The interim report focuses on the need for education provision and real support at an early stage for autistic children. The provision of special needs education is an ongoing priority for the Government. As Senators will be aware, in 2022 in excess of €2.3 billion was provided for supporting special education in the Department of Education. For 2023, the special education budget will be substantially increased by over 12%, which means the Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education this year. This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented. It represents in excess of 27% of the Department total allocation for 2023.

Ábalta Special School is a multi-denominational special school under the patronage of Autism Ireland. The school is based in rented premises at Parkmore, Galway. The enrolment at the school in 2022 was 18 pupils and the school has a current staffing of a principal and three special class teachers. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has responsibility for co-ordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.

The Department and the NCSE are working closely on a more streamlined and joined-up planning process to ensure a targeted approach to meet the demand for special needs ahead of each new school year. The Department is committed to delivering an inclusive educational environment for all pupils. The Department and the NCSE continue to work closely on planning the delivery of new places. I know the NCSE has had engagement with the Ábalta Special School regarding the potential future expansion of the school.

Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021 to 2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with our ambitious plans but that requires, as the Senator has said, a real focus by the Department to ensure delivery.

The Senator and I know only too well the practical need to manage and progress, at every stage, the delivery of key infrastructure for the community. It is important to raise this issue in this forum. The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, having been at the school and met the principal, teachers and stakeholders, is well seized of the importance to develop the school and the need for additional facilities. She has asked me to communicate to the Seanad her total commitment to pushing this through the Department in the most expeditious way available to her.