Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school children on the waiting list for a special classroom in Ashbourne, County Meath. [25729/19]

Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of primary school children waiting on a place in a special room in County Meath. [25730/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together.

The enrolment of a child to a school is a matter, in the first instance, for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment in schools or keeping waiting lists.

The NCSE has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, 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.

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.

The Council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.

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