Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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139. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to facilitate an additional specialised educational unit as a part of a campus (details supplied); if the existing units will be extended to accommodate additional pupil needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17177/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for organising and planning provision for children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools.

Special classes offer a supportive learning environment to students with ASD who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class, even with support, for most or all of their school day. Special classes are for students who have a recommendation for a special class placement in their professional reports.

Should the NCSE identify the requirement for additional special class placements in the area it will contact schools in the area in relation to establishing an ASD special class. Schools may also 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.

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.

In addition, the NCSE will consider:

- the school’s accommodation and accessibility

- the number of special classes, if any, already in the school.

With regard to Co. Kildare in particular, there are 4 special schools and 66 special classes attached to mainstream schools. Of these, 6 are ASD early intervention classes, 41 are primary ASD classes and 12 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Kildare have increased from 17 in 2011/2012 to 65 in 2017/2018.

The NCSE has informed my Department that they intend to establish a number of new ASD Special Classes in Co. Kildare for 2018/19 school year to meet currently identified need.

In the case of all new schools, it is general practice to include a Special Needs Unit (SNU) in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. A two classroom Special Needs Unit is being provided in each of the two post-primary schools currently under construction in the area referred to by the Deputy. Both of these schools are due to be completed by May 2019.

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. Contact details are available at .

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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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140. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide an autism unit (details supplied) for the Maynooth area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17179/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for organising and planning provision for children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools.

Special classes offer a supportive learning environment to students with ASD who are unable to access the curriculum in a mainstream class, even with support, for most or all of their school day. Special classes are for students who have a recommendation for a special class placement in their professional reports.

Should the NCSE identify the requirement for additional special class placements in the area it will contact schools in the area in relation to establishing an ASD special class. Schools may also 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. 

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. 

In addition, the NCSE will consider:

- the school’s accommodation and accessibility

- the number of special classes, if any, already in the school.

With regard to Co. Kildare in particular, there are 4 special schools and 66 special classes attached to mainstream schools. Of these, 6 are ASD early intervention classes, 41 are primary ASD classes and 12 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Kildare have increased from 17 in 2011/2012 to 65 in 2017/2018.

The NCSE has informed my Department that they intend to establish a number of new ASD Special Classes in Co. Kildare for 2018/19 school year to meet currently identified need.

In the case of all new schools, it is general practice to include a Special Needs Unit (SNU) in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. A two classroom Special Needs Unit is being provided in each of the two post-primary schools currently under construction in the area referred to by the Deputy. Both of these schools are due to be completed by May 2019.

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. Contact details are available at .

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.