Written answers

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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473. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the provision in mainstream secondary schools in County Kildare for children with a disability, including those on the autism spectrum disorder; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41377/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs, including children with autism, should be included, where possible and appropriate, in mainstream school placements with additional supports provided. In circumstances where children with special educational need require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available.

Children with autism over the age of four may be eligible for home tuition if a school placement is not available for them.

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of 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. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents are encouraged to liaise with the local SENO to discuss placement options for their child.

The NCSE will continue to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to establish such new special classes, where necessary, subject to the willingness of schools to open classes. Where a school opens a special class the NCSE will allocate supports to the class to meet the educational and care needs of the students enrolled.

In addition to the mainstream educational provision provided for, there are over 1,000 special classes throughout the country at primary and post primary level. The number of special classes at post primary level has risen by approximately 70 classes in the last 3 years.

The NCSE has advised that there are currently 12 special classes, including 11 autism specific classes, at post primary level in Co. Kildare. Each special class for autism at post-primary level has a 6:1.5 pupil teacher ratio.

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