Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party)
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124. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has assessed the need for an autism spectrum disorder specific special school in the Dublin 15 area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50752/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that new schools are established to meet demographic demand. In general, the Department's policy is to integrate children with special educational needs into the mainstream school system wherever possible. Many of our schools have special education classes included within them. However, Special Schools are also necessary to meet the educational needs of pupils whose needs cannot be adequately catered for in a mainstream school.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Policy Advice recommends that special schools should be designated and resourced to serve those pupils within the community who require special school placement rather than be limited to any specific category of disability, such as ASD. Many special schools now enrol students from disability categories other than from those provided for by their school designations.

The need to establish a new special school would normally be first identified by the National Council for Special Education in conjunction with my Department when they identify gaps in special needs provision in a given area.

There are 37 Special Schools in Dublin city and county. The NCSE has advised my Department that there is an emerging need for additional Special School placement options in the North Dublin area. 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 school placements can access such placements.