Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to have a third ASD unit provided at a school (details supplied) for the 2019-20 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6310/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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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.

There are 5 special schools and 49 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Co. Limerick. Of these, 5 are ASD early intervention classes, 22 are primary ASD classes and 14 are post-primary ASD classes. The number of ASD special classes in Co. Limerick has increased from 2 in 2013/2014 to 41 in 2018/2019. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available by county on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.

Schools may 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 local SENO, 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 local SENO will also take account of location and sustainability in looking to establish special classes in certain areas.

In addition, the local SENO will consider:

- the school’s accommodation and accessibility and

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

The decision to sanction a special class in a specific school is a matter for the NCSE local SENO. My Department has no role in making such determinations.

The NCSE has informed my Department that the local SENO is satisfied that there are currently sufficient special class placements available to meet identified in the area referred to by the Deputy.

Should the NCSE identify the requirement for an additional ASD special class in the area the local SENO will consider all schools in the area in relation to establishing an ASD special class.

Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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230. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to introduce ASD units at secondary school level (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6312/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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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.

The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year, and where special class provision is required, it is planned and established to meet that need.

Since 2011, the NCSE has increased the number of post-primary special classes from 72 in 2011 to 322 across the country now. This is a natural consequence of the earlier growth in primary ASD special class numbers.

My Department will continue to support the NCSE in opening ASD special classes in areas where there is an identified need.

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.

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