Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, special classes in secondary schools, by county, in tabular form; the number of new classes that will be established in the 2019-2020, 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 school years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35452/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. This includes taking account of the flow of students from primary into post primary.

The NCSE works with families and schools to ensure that advance planning is in place so that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements.

It is open to any school to apply to the NCSE to open a special class for children with special educational needs. There is a package of teaching, special needs assistant, training and funding supports available to assist schools. When the NCSE sanctions a special class in a school, the school can apply to the Department for capital funding to re-configure existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation.

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.

Special classes for students with ASD provide 6 placements and are staffed with a lower pupil–teacher ratio of 6:1.5 at post primary level.

167 new special classes will be opened for the 2019/20 school year, which means there will be 1,622 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011. Of these, 370 are Post Primary ASD special classes, compared to 72 in 2011.

Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs are available, in tabular form by county with new classes identified, on the NCSE website at .

As the Deputy's question also relates to future projected need I have forwarded it to the NCSE for direct reply.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

358. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his legislative powers have been used to date to ensure ASD classes are established throughout second-level education; if not, if a directive has been issued to the sector to establish such classes and ensure that no child is denied appropriate education at second-level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35453/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Minister I have a power under Section 37A of the Education Act 1998 to direct a school to provide additional provision where all reasonable efforts have failed.  

The legislation provides for a very transparent series of steps which can ultimately lead to the issuing of a legally binding direction to a board of management. 

The initial step in the process is for the NCSE to inform the Minister there is a shortage of places in a particular area. 

The NCSE has informed my Department that in general it is satisfied that there are placements available to meet identified need.

167 new special classes will be opened for the 2019/20 school year, which means there will be 1,622 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011. Of these, 370 are Post Primary ASD special classes, compared to 72 in 2011. 

Where Parents have been experiencing difficulty securing a Post Primary special class placement, they should contact their local SENO to help resolve the issue.

In such circumstances the NCSE SENO will actively engage at local level with schools, Patron Bodies and the families to ensure that a suitable placement is provided as soon as possible.

Funding towards home tuition is available as a short term measure if no suitable place is available. 

If, following completion of that work, the NCSE has not been able to establish the required school placements it can activate the provisions contained in section 37A of the Education Act 1998.

It should be noted that the continued growth in post primary special class numbers is a natural consequence of the earlier growth in primary special class numbers. However, it should not be assumed that the same levels of growth in post primary class numbers should apply. This is because, for children with Autism, transferring from a special class in a primary school to a special class in a post primary school may not always be the optimal choice. Many children can progress to mainstream post primary with support of SNA and Resource Teaching hours, while more may transfer from primary to a special school depending on their presentation and needs.

It should also be noted that there is a proportionally larger enrolment at Primary level due to the higher number of standard years.

I will continue to support the establishment of ASD Special Classes in all areas where the NCSE have identified the need to do so.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

359. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of funding per student in ASD special classes in primary schools; the amount of funding provided per student in secondary schools; his plans to remedy the disparity in funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35454/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Capitation funding is intended to contribute towards the cost of heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. Capitation funding provided to schools, including enhanced capitation grants for special classes, may be regarded as a common grant which the Board of Management can allocate according to its own priorities.

My Department recognises the need to improve capitation funding for schools. Capitation grants are the main funding mechanism for schools to enable them meet their day to day running costs.

Budget 2019 provided for a 5% increase in Capitation funding for primary and post primary schools which will apply from the start of the 2019/20 school year. Over the course of the school year 2019/20, an additional €10 million will be allocated to primary and post primary schools, of which €4 million will be allocated in 2019.

It is my intention to seek additional funding for capitation in forthcoming Budgets.

The full range of capitation grants, including post primary special class grants, are among the many grants being considered as part of the Budget 2020 process.

It should be noted that it is extremely difficult to make valid comparisons between the levels of grants paid and the actual costs of running schools at primary and post primary levels.  Primary ASD special classes receive an enhanced capitation grant of €849 per student enrolled inclusive of the mainstream capitation rate (currently €179 per student). Post Primary ASD special classes do not receive enhanced capitation.  However, the Post Primary mainstream capitation rate is €309 per student.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

360. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of inspections of ASD special classes in primary schools and secondary schools; the number of inspections that have taken place by county in tabular form; if specialist inspectors are employed for such inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35455/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To date, in 2019, inspectors have conducted Evaluations of Provision for Pupils with Special Educational Needs (SEN evaluations) in 41 schools, located throughout the country. This involved visits to 85 ASD special classes across these 41 schools.  The Inspectorate’s findings on the quality of education in these special classes were incorporated into the inspection reports on these schools, subsequently prepared for publication on the Department’s website.

Almost all of the inspection reports arising from these SEN evaluations have completed the stages of the publication process. These reports have been issued to the schools inspected and they can also be accessed on the Department’s website.

SEN evaluations are carried out by a small team of inspectors with specific expertise and experience in SEN and all team members have been fully briefed on the operation of the SEN evaluation model.

The number of SEN inspections conducted in 2019 is included in tabular format below by school sector and county.

SEN Primary Inspections (2019)

SEN Post-Primary Inspections (2019)