Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the lack of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, services in an area (details supplied) notwithstanding the best efforts of the service providers; the current provision of services in the area; and his plans to rectify this matter. [15129/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I understand that the Deputy has clarified that he is referring to the provision of ASD special classes in the Cork area.

Individual school boards of management are responsible for the establishment of special classes.  It is open to any school in the area to make application to the National Council for Special education (NCSE) to establish a class.

The National Council for Special Education, an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs. The Council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.

The NCSE’s team of locally based Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise parents whose children have special needs and identify available placements. They also support and advise schools in this area. Parents who are experiencing difficulties in locating a special class placement, should contact their local SENO.

In deciding where to establish a special class in an area, the NCSE take account of the current and projected demand and the available school accommodation both current and planned. In this regard, the SENO may approach individual schools to discuss the matter with a view to finding the optimal location in terms of convenience and sustainability.

When the NCSE sanction a special class in a school, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding to re-configure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation.

From time to time, the NCSE identifies local areas where additional special class provision is required. In those circumstances, Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) work with the schools and families concerned to resolve the issues involved. This process is ongoing and the NCSE are actively engaging with schools in Cork in relation to establishing ASD classes where there is an identified need for the 2019/2020 school year.

160 new special classes have been opened for the 2018/19 school year, which means there are now 1,459 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011.

There are currently 246 special classes attached to mainstream schools in Cork City and County. Of these, 28 are ASD early intervention classes, 119 are primary ASD classes and 54 are post primary ASD classes. Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available on www.ncse.ie. 

My Department is aware that the establishment of special provision in some schools and communities can be challenging.

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

Section 8 of the Act 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.