Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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223. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was not offered a school place in Galway city and has to travel every day to school in Athenry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39238/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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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 where there is an identified need.

The NCSE continues to establish additional special classes to support children with Special Educational Needs, including Autism, as required. Since 2011 the NCSE has increased the number of special classes by over 100% from 548 in 2011 to 1,302 for the 2017/18 school year.

1,042 of these are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes of which 3 are ASD classes at post-primary level in Galway City and 11 are ASD post-primary classes in Galway County.

While it is not always possible to ensure that a special class placement will be available in a student’s local school, my Department continues to work with the NCSE to ensure that there is appropriate planning in place to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in schools within their communities.

The NCSE, in looking to open special classes, must take into account the present and future potential need for such classes, taking particular account of the educational needs of the children concerned. The NCSE will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas. The NCSE has informed my Department that they have approached a number of schools in the area referred to by the Deputy to open classes.

Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available on www.ncse.ie.

Parents/guardians of children with special needs who may need advice should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO). The local SENO contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.

As the Deputy’s question relates to the placement options for a particular child, I have referred the question to the NCSE for their consideration and direct reply.