Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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488. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) whose educational needs are not being met in a mainstream educational setting; and the steps she is taking to ensure the person receives the necessary placement and supports to obtain their education. [38020/20]

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. Next year, over 20% of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs.

This investment will support the provision of over 1,200 additional special class places.

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

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. 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.

The NCSE is actively working with schools to establish special classes. It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE to open a special class. The active collaboration of school communities is vital to the effective inclusion of students with special educational needs.

I understand that the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) has been in regular contact with the family of the student referred to by the Deputy and continues to support them to address concerns regarding a specialist placement.