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

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. It gives me the opportunity to outline what we are doing regarding special education in general. I commend the Catherine McAuley School on all the work it is doing. It has a wonderful principal and staff. I visited on 10 February last. The school has a lovely, warm atmosphere. I could see how committed and dedicated all the staff are to looking after the children with additional needs. As the Senator indicated, there are 259 pupils in the school at present. I know there is a waiting list. It wants to be in a position to be able to expand in the future. It is important to say that when the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, sanctions a special class in any school, which, I know, is separate from a special school, it can apply for capital funding to reconfigure any existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class or indeed to construct additional accommodation under the additional school accommodation, ASA, scheme.

In recognising some of the difficulties experienced by parents in securing appropriate school placements, since 2020, the Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined-up approach in respect of the planning process, which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school year. This intensive intervention has resulted in the establishment of seven new special schools over the past three years, including new special schools in Cork and Dublin, which are due to open for the 2023-24 school year. Expanded capacity at 11 special schools is also planned for September.

In this context, the NCSE, through its special educational needs organisers, SENOs, is identifying areas of priority in the Limerick area. My Department is liaising with the NCSE on this matter and the long-term needs of Catherine McAuley School. I note that the school submitted an ASA application in November 2022 requesting retrospective funding for the purchase of two modular units which the Senator spoke of. Officials in my Department are liaising with the SENO at the school on the long-term needs that exist there. Once that information is received, the Department will be in a position to fully assess the accommodation needs of the school. There are about 1,300 school building projects ongoing throughout the country. Much good work is being done. All key stakeholders are actively working to ensure that any children who do not have a place for next year are provided with a suitable placement. That is very important and the NCSE is leading the work in that regard.

I assure the Senator that the Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure that all children are successful in accessing education. I also wish to assure the Senator that the application for capital funding for Catherine McAuley School is being assessed in consultation with the NCSE. Once that has been assessed adequately, the school authorities will be notified of a decision directly.