Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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341. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding is available to support two ASD units in two primary schools in Mountmellick, County Laois in which there are a number of children in need of the service. [36607/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to ensuring every child with special educational needs has the opportunity to fulfil their full potential. 

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.

The Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs, including autism, ASD, in mainstream school settings, unless such a placement would not be in the best interests of the child concerned, or the children with whom they will be educated.

The greater proportion of children with ASD attend mainstream class, where they may access additional supports if required.

Some students with ASD, although academically able to access the curriculum in mainstream, may find it too difficult to manage full-time placement there and placement in an ASD special class is an option for them.

Special school placements are provided for other students with ASD and very complex special needs who wouldn’t manage in a mainstream school even for part of the week.

The National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of special needs organisers, SENOs, for the development and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with special educational needs, including the establishment of special class and special school placements.

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.

Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of such classes by over 130% from 548 in 2011 to 1,456 across the country now, of which 1,192 are autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special classes. This network includes 129 ASD early intervention classes, 742 primary ASD classes and 321 post-primary ASD classes in mainstream schools.

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. 

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

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

There are currently 23 ASD special classes at primary level in County Laois.  While it is not always possible or practical that a special class placement would be available in the child’s local school, the NCSE has informed the Department that they are satisfied that there are sufficient ASD special class placements to meet existing demand in County Laois.

In general, children with special educational needs are eligible for school transport if they are attending the nearest special class that is or can be resourced, to meet their special educational needs under my Departments criteria. Most but not all children with special educational needs avail of this support.

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 athttp://ncse.ie/seno-contact-list  

The NCSE's planning for future projected need for special class provision in all areas of County Laois, including Mountmellick, is an on-going process. Should the NCSE identify the need to establish an ASD special class in the Mountmellick area in the future, it will consider all schools in the area in relation to establishing an ASD special class.

In circumstances where the NCSE have identified the need for to establish a special class in a school, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding where the school is not a position to accommodate a special class within its existing accommodation.

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.