Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on a matter (details supplied); his plans going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14498/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The number of special classes has more than doubled, from 548 in 2011 to 1153 across the country now, of which 889 are special Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) classes. The number of special classes at post-primary level has doubled in the past five years and continues to rise rapidly.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the body responsible for organising and planning provision for children with Special Educational Needs, including establishing special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools. The NCSE has informed my Department that, in general, they are satisfied that there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand.

Careful evaluation needs to be carried out before any policy decision is considered to give the Department or the NCSE the power to compel a school to open a special class or an ASD unit. In particular, there should be convincing evidence that the school system in an area is failing to make provision for ASD students before any such move should be considered.

However, it should not be presumed that there should be a special class placement in post primary school for every child that leaves a special class in primary school as many of these children should be able to consider transferring to mainstream or special schools as appropriate.

In many cases, refusal to open classes arises because the school has either no space; is currently full; is awaiting a new building or renovation of existing buildings or rooms, or cannot access suitably trained teachers. Where the difficulties are infrastructural or relate to the availability of suitably trained teachers or SNAs, it is clearly preferable that my Department would work to ensure that these difficulties are addressed and overcome.

I will continue to work with my officials to address all issues in this area, supporting children with special educational needs is a big priority for my Department and this will continue to inform all actions in this important area.