Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 203 and 204 of 20 May 2020, her plans to address the shortage of special class places in areas of County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29851/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. Currently, almost 20% of the total Education Vote or €1.9bn is invested in supporting children with special needs.

The numbers of special classes, special education teachers and special needs assistants are at unprecedented levels.

Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased by almost 235% from 548 to 1,836 for the 2020/2021 school year. Of these 1,321 special classes are in primary schools.

Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country, including Cork, where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of school places.

It is open to any school to seek to open a special class and there is a range of supports available for schools in terms of funding, specialist advice and professional development. As Minister, I have powers under Section 37A of the Education Act to direct a school to provide additional places but this power is only used as a last resort and where all reasonable efforts have failed.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. The NCSE is working with schools, patron bodies, parents and others in Cork to bring the additional special education placements on stream.

I am pleased to report that progress has been made with regard to the provision of additional special class places. However, the NCSE has identified the need for additional special school places in Cork for the current school-year. In this regard, I can confirm that my Department and the NCSE are working with the Patron and management of an existing special school on expanding its provision.

Planning is also underway to ensure that children in the Cork area are provided with a suitable placement in the next school-year. Through better planning at both national and local level, it is my objective that specialist education places should come on stream to meet emerging demand on a timely basis. However, the active collaboration of school communities is essential in this regard.