Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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701. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a place can be made available in a special school for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33707/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Ensuring that every child has a suitable school placement is a key objective of this Department. Significant resources are allocated each year to ensure that appropriate supports are available for children with special educational needs.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide; has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents; and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special education placements. Accordingly, I have referred this question to the NCSE for direct reply.

The NCSE's local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) are available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at:

In circumstances, where no placement is available for a child with special educational needs, the Department can provide Home Tuition grant funding towards the provision of 20 hours home tuition per week as an interim measure until the NCSE confirms that a placement is available.

Home Tuition will not however be available where a school placement has been identified by the NCSE. Similarly, failure to enrol a child in school will not give rise to eligibility under this scheme.

The NCSE has confirmed that they are aware of the child referred to by the Deputy and have assured me that they are available to support the family.