Written answers

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary and secondary schools in counties Laois and Offaly with ASD units. [5858/19]

Photo of Carol NolanCarol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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88. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the number of ASD units at primary and second-level in counties Laois and Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5859/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 88 together.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs including Autism, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.

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.

There are 25 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Laois. Of these, 4 are ASD early intervention classes, 17 are primary ASD classes and 3 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co.Laois has increased from 4 in 2011/2012 to 24 in 2018/2019.

There are 64 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Offaly. Of these, 10 are ASD early intervention classes, 29 are primary ASD classes and 9 are post primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Offaly has increased from 12 in 2011/2012 to 48 in 2018/2019.

Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available by county on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie

From time to time, the NCSE identifies local areas where additional special class provision is required. In those circumstances, SENOs work with the schools and families concerned to resolve the issues involved.

The Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 will assist in addressing this issue where the NCSE is of the opinion that there is insufficient education provision for children with special educational needs in an area.

Section 8 of the Act, which commenced on the 3rd of December 2018, provides the Minister with a power, after a process of consultation with the NCSE, the board of management and the patron of the school, to compel a school to make additional provision for the education of children with special educational needs.

Special Classes can be established within a schools existing accommodation. In such circumstances the school can apply to the Department for capital funding to re-configure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation for special needs purposes should the school’s existing accommodation not be capable of hosting special classes. 

In the case of all new schools, it is general practice to include a Special Education Needs Base (SEN Base) in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. Typically, a two classroom SEN Base is provided in new primary schools and a two or four classroom SEN Base is provided in new post primary schools.

All school capital projects that have been approved by my Department under the Additional Accommodation Scheme, including special needs accommodation, may be viewed on my Department’s website, www.education.ieand this is updated regularly.

As the Deputy's question relates to a particular area I have arranged for the question to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

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