Written answers

Tuesday, 17 December 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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191. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the resources provided to primary schools that establish a special class for children with autism; if the full building, alteration and renovation costs plus fittings and materials are fully covered in addition to redecoration necessary; if the full staffing of such a special class is fully covered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52956/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The provision of education for children with special needs, including those with Autism, is an ongoing priority for Government. 

Currently, almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn is invested in supporting children with special needs.

Since 2011 investment in Special Education supports has increased by 50%, which is significantly above the 7% increase in total student numbers over the same period.

Nationally, 167 new special classes opened this school year, which means there are 1,618 special classes in place, compared to 548 in 2011.

Of these 1,355 are ASD special classes, including 133 ASD Early Intervention classes, 852 Primary ASD classes and 370 Post Primary ASD classes.

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide and has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents.

The Council ensures 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 including special schools to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, there is a range of supports including capital funding available to the school. My Department works closely with the NCSE in this regard.

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. There are standard arrangements in place for the funding, design and delivery of these projects.

Special classes for students with ASD are staffed with a lower pupil–teacher ratio of 6:1 at primary level and 6:1.5 at post primary level, and also have a minimum of two SNAs for every class of 6 children.

My Department issues current and capital funding directly to management authorities of schools.

Resources which may be provided to schools to support children with Autism include the following:

- Professional development for teachers

- The National Educational Psychological Service

- Assistive technology

- Access to the Special School transport scheme

- Access to special equipment and furniture where required

- Enhanced capitation grants at primary level

- Adapted school buildings/Additional accommodation

- ICT Grant for new classes

- Start Up grant for new classes

- Access to  the extended school year scheme (July Provision)

The NCSE has published guidelines for schools on setting up and organising Special Classes, which are available to download from www.ncse.ie. The guidelines include information on resources which may be provided to schools with special classes and links to information on the how funding is allocated.

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