Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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136. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the allocation made to a school (details supplied) in funding for the special needs programme and supports in the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11140/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Ensuring that children with special educational needs are supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential is a key priority for this government.

My Department's policy aims to ensure that all children with Special Educational Needs, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs, preferably in school settings through the primary and post primary school network.

Such placements facilitate access to individualised education programmes which may draw from a range of appropriate educational interventions, delivered by fully qualified professional teachers, with the support of Special Needs Assistants and the appropriate school curriculum.

Some students, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there. This can be due to significant difficulties in areas such as behaviour or sensory needs which have not been ameliorated, even with appropriate intervention, in mainstream.

Other children may have such complex needs that the recommendation in their professional reports state that they are best placed in a special school. 

In 2018, almost €1.8 billion will be invested in Special Education, nearly one fifth of the overall Education budget, and up 43% since 2011.

This funding includes provision for the following:

- The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers (SENOs), for fulfilling the functions of the NCSE Council within a designated area in relation to the identification of and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with disabilities. All schools have the contact details of their local SENO and parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details on the NCSE website.

- over 13,400 Special Education Teaching posts in mainstream primary and post primary schools for the 2017/2018 school year, providing additional teaching support to pupils with special educational needs, 

- approximately 1,300 special classes, with 169 new Special Classes opened to date for the 2017/18 school year. This compares to 548 special classes in 2011.

- 14,120 Special Needs Assistants available for allocation to the end of the 2017/18 school year, an increase of over 33% since 2011 when 10,575 SNA were allocated to primary and post primary schools

- Over 1,400 teachers in 124 Special Schools

- the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) delivers a consultative, tiered service delivery model to schools, in line with international best practice for the effective and efficient delivery of educational psychological services that best meet the needs of all pupils/students in schools.  This service delivery model allows NEPS psychologists to support schools to provide an effective continuum of support to meet the needs of pupils/students. 

- NCSE’s Support service brought under their control, the Special Education Support Service (SESS), the National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher Service for children who are deaf/hard of hearing and for children who are blind/visually impaired (VTSVHI). The Support Service provides advice and support to schools on the education and inclusion of students with special educational needs, providing in-school support for support teachers, continuing professional development for teachers, and support to schools on the management of challenging behaviour. It will also enhance the multi-disciplinary capacity of the education system through providing access to expert knowledge in areas such as autism, speech and language and challenging behavior.

- Assistive technology/specialised equipment.

- Special school transport arrangements.

- Enhanced capitation grants for special schools and special classes attached to mainstream primary and post primary schools.

- Modification of school buildings.

- Special Arrangements for State Examinations.

- ESF Aided Fund for Students with Disabilities at 3^rdlevel.

- Vocational Training for people with disabilities.

- Adult Education – once off projects for disability in education.

My Department is unaware of any specific concerns relating to Special Educational Provision for the school to which the Deputy has referred. The school received an increased teaching allocation under new Special Education Teacher allocation model which was applied from September 2017, bringing its allocation to 87.5 hours. In addition, the school has an allocation of 2 special needs assistants.

Supports provided by the NCSE to all schools is available on a county basis on its website at www.ncse.ie.