Written answers

Wednesday, 24 April 2013

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to put in place special needs educational units within existing mainstream second level schools acknowledging that new second level schools are being built with such facilities but recognising that existing second level schools are in the main lacking in such facilities and leading to large numbers of students with special needs availing of such facilities at primary level but they do not have this option when they reach second level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19437/13]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its local Special Education Needs Officers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes or units in various geographical areas as necessary.

It is general practice for my Department to include a special needs unit in the accommodation brief for new school buildings. In the case of existing schools, additional accommodation may not be required in all cases to establish a special class or special needs unit as the schools concerned may have sufficient capacity to facilitate this. My Department endeavours to respond positively to applications from existing schools for additional accommodation where the need for a special class or special needs unit has been approved by the NCSE and where the schools existing accommodation is not capable of hosting the additional accommodation required.

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