Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the admissions legislation proposed by the Government will allow the NCSE to require a school to establish a special class where there is sufficient local demand for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34236/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Education (Admission to Schools) Bill was published on 6 July 2016. Publication of the Bill reflects the commitment in the Programme for Government to publish new School Admissions legislation taking account of current draft proposals and addressing issues including publication of school enrolment policies, an end to waiting lists, introduction of annual enrolment structures, and transparency and fairness in admissions for pupils and their parents.

The Admissions Bill provides that where a school has places available it must admit all applicants. The Bill also contains a provision for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to designate a school for a child who has no school place for reasons related to the child’s special educational needs and for the Child and Family Agency to designate a school for a child who has no school place (other than a child with special educational needs). The NCSE or the Child and Family Agency will not be able to increase a school’s capacity, a school must have places available for a designation to be made.

In relation to the establishment of special classes, the NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), in consultation with the relevant education partners, is responsible for the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE continues to engage with schools in opening special classes where there is an identified need for special class provision.

Progress in developing this network has been significant and in addition to special school placements there are currently over 1,000 special classes throughout the country at primary and post primary level including 762 special classes for children with Autism.

The NCSE recently published a list of special classes for the 2016/17 school year. In total there are 1,153 special classes available, which is an increase of over 100% in the number of special classes which were available in 2011, which was 548.

Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs, are available on www.ncse.ie in county order, and with new classes identified.

The NCSE recently launched guidelines for Boards of Management and Principals of Primary and Post Primary schools which provide information on setting up and organising special classes.  These guidelines are available to download from www.ncse.ie .