Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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248. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the capacity of a school (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39950/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools, which have enrolled students with special educational needs, in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, s/he will have access to an appropriate education.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) which is a separate independent statutory body, plans and co-ordinates the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE).

The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year, and where special provision, including special class or special school provision, is required, it is planned and established to meet that need. This is an on-going process.

The NCSE has advised my Department that there is an emerging need for additional Special School placement options in the Kildare area.

As the Deputy is aware, a new school building for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department’s six year construction programme.

The project is currently at site identification stage and my Department is engaging with Kildare County Council on this matter. A decision on the new school’s capacity will be made when the site has been identified and the project brief developed. My Department will liaise with the school authorities in this regard.

In the interim, the NCSE is working with the Board of Management of the school in relation to expanding provision in the existing school site. The Board of Management of the school can apply to my Department for capital funding if the school is not a position to accommodate additional placements 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.