Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a person (details supplied) will be provided with a place in a special class for children with a diagnosed disability in view of the recommendation by the HSE on 23 October 2017. [48529/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The policy of my Department is to ensure that all children with special educational needs can be provided with an education appropriate to their needs.

My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled students with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.

Department policy is that children with special educational needs should be included where possible and appropriate in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. In circumstances where children with special educational needs require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are provided for.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is a separate independent statutory body whose functions include planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs in conjunction with schools and the Health Service Executive (HSE). The NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports as required.  This includes the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas where there is an identified need. The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need.

Students enrolling in special lasses must have a report from a relevant professional or team of cprofessionals (for example, psychologist, speech and language therapist, psychiatrist) stating that:

- S/he has a disability (in line with the designation of the special class in question, and

- S/he has significant learning needs that require the support of a special class setting and the reasons why this is the case.

170 new special classes have been opened for the 2017/18 school year and the NCSE continues to establish additional special classes as required.  Since 2011 the NCSE has increased the number of special classes by over 130% from 548 in 2011 to 1,302 for the 2017/18 school year.

Schools may apply to the NCSE to open a special class where a need has been identified in their area i.e. a number of students have professional reports indicating they require the support of a special class.

SENOs may also approach a school directly where they are aware that a special class is or will be required in the near future. SENOs consult with other education parties (e.g. NEPS and Inspectorate) when planning to set up a special class.

Before approaching schools to request the establishment of a special class, SENOs take into account both present and future potential needs within the area and must be satisfied that the class is sustainable and appropriately located.

Parents/Guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties in locating a school placement, including special class placement, should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child. The NCSE’s SENO responsibility includes planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, including supporting children and parents in identifying school placement options and resource needs. Each SENO works in an assigned local area with parents, schools, teachers, psychologists, health professionals and other staff who are involved in the provision of services in that area for children with special educational needs. Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.

Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs, including those in the area to which the Deputy refers are available on www.ncse.ie  in county order, and with new classes identified.

 As the matter referred to by the Deputy involves a special class placement for an individual child, I have arranged for the NCSE to respond directly to the Deputy on the issue.