Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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155. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a child (details supplied) in County Kildare cannot be facilitated in an appropriate second level school closer than 50 km from that child's home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5088/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department's policy focuses on ensuring that all children with special educational needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs and abilities.

A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for establishing special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

SENOs engage with schools annually in order to plan for, and to open, new special classes each year, in order to ensure there are sufficient special class placements available at primary and post primary school level to meet demand in a given area.

In the case referred to by the Deputy the NCSE is actively engaging with the parent in question on the issue of a post primary placement for September 2015. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NCSE for their direct attention and reply.