Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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390. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school (details supplied) in County Kildare will be considered for a special class to support children with mild and moderate learning difficulties. [55195/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department's policies focus on ensuring that all children can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

A range of placement options for pupils with special educational needs is provided, in order to ensure that all pupils can receive a school placement. Many pupils with special educational needs will be able to attend a local mainstream school, whereas for pupils who have needs which require more specialist interventions, special class and special school placements are provided for.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

The NCSE welcomes expressions of interest from schools in opening special classes to meet the demand for special class provision.  In deciding on the location of a special class SENOs take into account both the present and the future potential need for special class provision and they must be satisfied that the special class is sustainable and appropriately located.  SENOs liaise with relevant professionals in their area to arrive at an informed decision.

The NCSE continues to monitor and review the requirement for special class places in particular areas and has capacity to establish such new special classes where necessary, subject to the willingness of schools to open classes. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents are encouraged to liaise with the local SENO to discuss placement options for their child.

Special classes within mainstream schools are intended for children who, by virtue of their level of Special Educational Needs, cannot reasonably be educated in a mainstream class setting, but who can still attend their local school in a special class with a lower pupil–teacher ratio and access to Special Needs Assistant support.

The NCSE has advised that the SENO for the school to which the Deputy refers, has had ongoing contact with the school in regard to the establishment of a special class for students with a diagnosis of ASD. In this regard, the NCSE has issued sanction to the school for the establishment of an ASD class to commence in September 2018. 

The NCSE has also advised that no request has been received from the school or from parents in the area, to establish a special class for students with a Mild or Moderate learning difficulties.  

There are currently 6 special classes for students with mild/moderate GLD in mainstream schools (3 primary & 3 post primary) in Co Kildare. A list of all special classes is available on the NCSE's website at www.ncse.ie.