Written answers

Wednesday, 23 October 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Expenditure

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on whether ASD special classes in both primary and secondary schools should be equally funded; the estimated cost of equalisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43686/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The provision of education for children with special needs is an ongoing priority for Government.  Currently, we spend almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn on supporting children with special needs.

The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and Special Needs Assistants are at unprecedented levels and so too is the number of children receiving support across the continuum that includes mainstream classes, special classes and schools. Our commitment is provide each child with an education in accordance with his/her need.

An additional 1,050 specialised places have been provided this school year, with 167 new special classes.  This brings the total number of special class places to over 9,700, almost a trebling provision since 2011. Over 80% of these are ASD special class places.

Details of all special classes for children with special educational needs including special classes for Autism are available by county on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie.

Capitation funding, is intended to contribute towards the cost of heating, lighting, cleaning, insurance, general up-keep etc. 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. The levels of capitation grants both primary and post primary are examined annually as part of the estimates process and in the light of available resources.

Budget 2019 provided for a 5% increase in Capitation funding for primary and post primary schools effective 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.

Budget 2020 provided that schools capitation for all schools will increase by a further 2.5% from September 2020. Enhanced capitation rates will increase by 7.5% from September 2020.

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 grants of €849 per student enrolled inclusive of the mainstream capitation rate (currently €179 per students). Post Primary ASD special classes do not receive enhanced capitation.  However, the Post Primary mainstream capitation rate is €309 per student.

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