Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of schools which have been offered funding to establish ASD units or special units in the past five years and have refused; the average sum offered to each school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16199/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that this Government is committed to ensuring that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with autism, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (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.

In addition, under my Department’s Additional Accommodation Scheme, it is open to schools to submit applications for devolved funding in respect of NCSE approved special classes in cases where an accommodation requirement has been identified and where the school cannot accommodate the class within its existing building.  The general cost of providing special classes will vary from school to school depending on whether a class is being provided within the existing school building or through an extension, the site specific costs and any associated planning conditions.

In the case of major school accommodation projects, it is general practice to include provision for a special class in the accommodation brief for new primary and post primary schools, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required or where site conditions preclude construction.  The specific amount spent on special needs accommodation, is not held by my Department as this is typically provided as part of a general building project and costs for the special needs accommodation are not isolated in the project cost.