Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein)
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290. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for the location of an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit in a school (details supplied) and-or another school in accordance with section 8 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18775/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I want to assure the Deputy and Parents that concerns regarding a shortage of appropriate school places for next September are being taken very seriously.

My Department Officials and the NCSE are actively engaging with local schools and school patron bodies to address this urgent and important issue.

Ensuring that every child has a suitable placement available to them from September is a key priority for me and my Department.

With regard to the schools referenced by the Deputy, my officials have advised me that the plans for both schools have been reconfigured to allow for the possible addition of a special classes on the site after the initial building work has been completed.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit at primary level in Rathcoole, County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18800/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Individual school boards of management are responsible for the establishment of special classes. It is open to any school to make application to the National Council for Special education (NCSE) to establish a special class.

The NCSE, an independent agency of my Department, is responsible for planning, coordinating and advising on education provision for children with special educational needs. This includes taking account of the flow of students from primary into post primary. The Council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.

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.

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. Of these, 321 are Post Primary ASD special classes, compared to 72 in 2011.

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.

Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) who are locally based are available to assist and advise parents whose children have special needs. They also assist and advise schools in making decisions in this area.

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.