Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome. She has responsibility for older people but also for mental health. For all of our mental health education is very important. My Commencement matter calls on the Minister for Education to confirm the location of a new special education school in Dublin 7. I would appreciate if the Minister of State would update the House on the provision of what will be a new special school but also the admission policy, the number of places that will be offered and the type of school it will be.

Special educational needs are the educational arrangements put in place for people and children with disabilities. In 1998 the then Minister with responsibility for education the Tánaiste, Deputy Micheál Martin, introduced the Education Act. This emphasises inclusivity and equality of access and provides for persons with disabilities and other special educational needs to avail of all of the benefits of education. There was further legislation in 2004 when the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act provided for children to be educated in inclusive settings unless that would not be in the best interests of the child.

Children with special needs are children who require special education because they have unique learning requirements. They have different learning requirements from those who are more typical and more the norm. Special education is designed to provide tailored instruction, support and resources to meet the specific needs of these children. People with special educational needs are those whose capacity to participate and benefit fully from education is in some way restricted due to a physical, sensory, mental health or learning disability. It is broadly accepted, and we can be proud as a country and as a society of the importance we place on ensuring that every child has access to education, particularly those with special educational needs so they can maximise their participation in education.

Special educational needs are the educational arrangements put in place for people and children with disabilities. In 1998 the then Minister with responsibility for education the Tánaiste Deputy Micheál

he norm. Special education is designed to provide tailored instruction support and resources to meet the specific needs of these children. People with special educational needs those who if there is capacity to participate and benefit fully from education is in some way restricted due to a physical, sensory, mental health learning disability. It is broadly accepted and we can be proud of the country and a society of the importance we place on ensuring that every child has access to education, particularly those with special educational needs so they can maximise their participation in education.

In Dublin 7 there must be hundreds of thousands of children with special educational needs. On 12 April we were delighted that it was announced there would be two new special educational schools delivered this year by the Government. We welcome this. One was announced for Carrigtwohill in east Cork and the other was for Dublin 7. We understand the special education school in Dublin 7 will be under the patronage of the City of Dublin Education and Training Board, CDETB and that it is to open for the 2023-2024 academic year. We do not know where it will be and this is of big interest. We do not know whether it will be a primary and secondary school. We do not know how children will enrol or apply for it. We are searching for some details from the Department. The Department has indicated that the location will be announced. It stated that the new school will be State run, co-educational, multidenominational and underpinned by the core values of excellence in education, respect, care, equality and community. This is the hallmark of CDETB.

From a health perspective, Dublin 7 is in CHO 9. Back in September 2021, there were 12 children disability network teams in CHO 9. This resource is very welcome. There are 238 posts and there is recruitment for vacancies. It is an incredibly difficult time for all organisations to recruit. I want to emphasise there is great welcome for this news and we just want more information.