Written answers

Tuesday, 6 November 2018

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Photo of Niamh SmythNiamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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313. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a person (details supplied) may not have a place to start in the ASD unit in a school (details supplied) in County Cavan; if the unit will be open in September 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45113/18]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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It is the policy of my Department that all children with Special Educational Needs, including those with Autism (ASD), 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.

The greater proportion of children with Autism attend mainstream classes, but some require the environment of a special class or special school. This decision is based on a recommendation contained within a professional assessment and in consultation with the NCSE.

Students enrolling in special classes must have a report from a relevant professional or team of professionals stating that:

- S/he has a disability (in line with the designation of the special placement in question) and

- S/he has significant learning needs that require the support of a specialised setting and the reasons why this is the case.

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENO’s), for the development, delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with Special Educational Needs, including the establishment of special class and special school placements, 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 is required in an area it is planned and provided for.

Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of special classes from 548 in 2011 to 1,459 across the country now, of which 1,196 are Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) special classes.

124 special schools provide specialist education for those students with the most complex special educational needs, including students diagnosed with ASD.

The local SENOs are available to assist parents to identify appropriate educational placements for children with special educational needs and to discuss their child's special educational needs. The local SENO contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.

As the matter raised by the Deputy refers to a particular child, I have arranged for the Deputy's question to be forwarded to the National Council for Special Education for their attention and direct reply. My Department has no role in such cases.

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