Written answers

Tuesday, 26 February 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Photo of Catherine MurphyCatherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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196. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which he plans to fill the shortfall in classroom spaces for children with special needs including autism at a school (details supplied) in County Kildare before the new school year 2019/2020; the way in which he further plans to provide an adequate number of school spaces to meet the needs of schoolchildren with special needs in County Kildare from 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9322/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The delivery of the Campus project for the school referred to by the Deputy has been devolved to Kildare and Wicklow Education & Training Board (KWETB).

It is understood that the project will be going to tender very shortly with a view to getting on site early in the summer and is still on target for occupation in September 2020.

The NCSE is responsible, through it's network of Special Needs Organisers, 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’s main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements. This process is ongoing and the NCSE are actively engaging with schools in Kildare to ensure that all children who require special class placements can access such placements in for the forthcoming school year.

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

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