Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Education who is here to update us on plans for Scoil Colm, Crumlin, Dublin 12.

Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for coming in to address this issue. I have worked with the Dublin 12 campaign for ASD inclusion and the Involve Autism groups since their inception. These are groups of courageous and dynamic parents who campaign for autism units in their local schools. More specifically, the Dublin 12 for ASD inclusion has campaigned since 2018 for an autism-specific school in Dublin 12.

Over the years we have had huge difficulty in obtaining the exact figure for those diagnosed with autism in Dublin 12. There also remains an unanswered parliamentary question on how many children in Dublin 12 have been diagnosed with autism. Despite this we know that there is much anecdotal evidence that there is a massive need in the area for an autism-specific school. The Department of Education has identified that there are 25 children in the Dublin 12 area who receive home tuition. However, there are other children who live in the area but attend less suitable schools and autism units located outside of their area, so there is a huge need for an autism-specific school in Dublin 12. These groups of brave parents have identified a site at Scoil Colm. It is an empty building on Armagh Road that has the potential to be of huge benefit to the community. We have met the Minister for Education and asked her to open Scoil Colm as an autism-specific school.

As many Senators will know, Scoil Colm is set in the middle of an educational hub and surrounded by schools. Scoil Úna Naofa is a mainstream school that does not have a mainstream ASD class. Scoil Eoin is a special school that caters for all disabilities with students ranging in age from nine to 18 years. The Rosary College is a secondary school that does not have an autism class. There is also a Youthreach and primary care centre that provides the community with access to GPs and public health nurses.

Scoil Colm has been closed since its amalgamation in 2016. Everyone involved in the project is aware that the premises need a massive amount of work but it can host up to 132 children. Scoil Colm also has a big campus on beautiful grounds so could provide a sensory garden. The vision is for Scoil Colm to open and become a centre of excellence for those with autism. I visited the site several weeks ago and met the Minister for Education. This project has the cross-party support of all the politicians in the area who know first hand the huge need felt by children with autism in the area.

I congratulate the Minister of State on the recent announcement whereby she asked, or perhaps ordered, 25 schools in south Dublin to open special autism units. That is a hugely welcome development but there will always be children who do not thrive in a school with an autism-specific unit so need the services provided at a autism-specific school. It is in that light that I ask for an update on Scoil Colm. What is the future envisaged for Scoil Colm? When will a decision be made? The site is vacant and the local community want the premises to be opened as an autism-specific school because the children in the community lack such a service. Does the Minister of State know how many people in the Dublin 12 area have been diagnosed with autism? How many children are on waiting lists for either an autism-specific school or unit?

It is important for the public to know how difficult it is for parents who have a child with autism. When they seek to register their child in a school, parents must apply to all autism classes in the area regardless of suitability for their child and they must apply to all autism classes outside of the area to improve their chances of getting any placement for their child, regardless of suitability for their child. Schools contact parents to advise if their child has been offered a placement. This offering can be made well into June thus increasing uncertainty for parents. If a placement is offered a parent must accept it regardless of the suitability of the class for the child. It is difficult enough for a child to get a place in a local school without having autism needs. However, when one's child is diagnosed with autism, one is faced with treble red tape when trying to get him or her a place in a school, which is hugely unfair.

Last week, the Minister for Education announced a no homework day. The children in Dublin 12 who are being home schooled and have been diagnosed with autism would like to experience a no homework day. We must, as we all know, treat all of our children equally.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I can hear the Senator's frustration on behalf of the parents of children with special needs and their journey, and I share her concern. As the very first dedicated Minister for special education, I am going to do precisely what she asked and make the entire process of locating a placement whether it is a special class or special school as easy as possible because at the moment it is unsatisfactory. I will outline this matter in my contribution.

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter. I want to acknowledge the tremendous work done by Involve Autism and the Dublin 12 campaign, both of whom I have met. Many of the parents have become activists as a result of their children's issues and challenges that they have had to face when dealing with the Department and the system.

Next year, as the Senator will know, we will have a record breaking €2 billion investment in education or 20% of the overall budget. As a result, the number of special education teachers, and special classes and school places will be at an unprecedented level, which is a step forward in the right direction.

Since my appointment I have met not just Involve Autism and the Dublin 12 campaign groups but a number of different associations and advocates for the special education sector. They have raised a number of issues with me that I hope to tackle through action priorities. I have published a list of my action priorities. I intend to itemise them and state deadlines and timelines for achieving those goals. Through both better planning at local and national levels, it is my objective to have special education places to meet the stream of emerging demand. The Senator talked about the number of autistic children. The data is something that we are looking at in terms of collecting and harvesting the information.

A forecasting model is being developed by the National Council for Special Education so that in the future this perennial issue, where there is a dearth of special class places, is tackled from a demographic perspective. It is important to note that the growth of autism has grown exponentially not just in Ireland but throughout the world and constantly evolves, which we have noted is particularly true for girls.

I am very conscious that there are some parts of the country, including south Dublin, in which there has been an increase in population that has led to valid concerns about the shortage of school places. I assure the Senator that the NCSE is continuing its engagement with schools, patron bodies, parents and others across south Dublin to bring the required additional special education placements onstream.The Senator will be aware that Scoil Colm has been identified as a potential location in terms of the provision of additional special school places for the area and my Department has had engagement with the building owner in this regard. Discussions are ongoing regarding the next steps in utilising this accommodation for special school places.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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That concludes-----

Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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Can I not come in again? Everyone else had the opportunity.

Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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It is now 11.30 a.m. The Senator can have one minute.

Catherine Ardagh (Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State, but I asked for a specific update on Scoil Colm. I would like to know where we are in regard to the discussions. What the Minister of State has said is very unclear. We need to know what is the future for Scoil Colm. What is going on is very cloak and dagger but the Department should give parents a proper update on the position of the school. They want to know what state the negotiations are at and what stage we are at in the ongoing process. It is hugely unfair to lead people up the garden path.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I assure Senator Ardagh that nobody is leading anybody up the garden path. Suffice to say, there have been site visits and discussions with the patrons, trustees and the principal of Scoil Colm where some 150 children are already provided for. My understanding is that the school will provide some but not all of the classes. There are ongoing discussions and we need to be hopeful in that regard. I hope something might arise out of the discussions and that I will be able to inform the House of it in due course.