Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will respond to and meet a group (details supplied). [38647/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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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 in consultation with the relevant stakeholders and the HSE.

This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where the NCSE identifies need.

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

To this end, the NCSE through its national network of Special Educational Needs officers (SENOs) has established structures to engage with relevant stakeholders, including Parents groups. I understand that there has been engagement with this Group already. If there are outstanding matters, then it is suggested that these are best raised with the NCSE directly who have operational responsibility for advising on provision.

I will refer the request to the NCSE so that the council can engage directly with the group referenced by the Deputy at local level.