Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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337. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts her Department and the NCSE are making to address the lack of ASD units in primary schools in south County Tipperary; her plans to develop new ASD units in primary schools in south County Tipperary; and the details of same. [41506/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department's policy is to provide for the inclusive education of autistic students in mainstream schools to the greatest extent possible.  

Autism is a spectrum condition, so some autistic students require relatively little support in school and are largely independent in their learning, while others require significant levels of support.

There is therefore not one preferred educational approach for autistic students, rather there is a range of provision, sometimes described as a continuum, which takes into account the assessed educational needs of individual students.

All students with special educational needs are served by this continuum of provision ranging from full-time enrolment in classes in mainstream schools with or without additional supports, to a special class in a mainstream school to full-time enrolment in special schools.

This continuum is supported by significant investment by Government, €2bn or 20% of the total education spend.  This funds the provision of additional teachers, special needs assistants and other supports required to enable children with special needs to access education. This investment will support the provision of over 1,200 additional special class places.

The National Council for Special Education is responsible for planning and coordinating local education provision and school placements for children with special needs for the whole country. 

NCSE has advised that there are currently 11 Primary School ASD classes in South Tipperary.

Taking a range of demographic factors into consideration, it is anticipated that additional places may be required in Tippeary to cater for likely future demand in the county. The NCSE, through its network of local SENOs, will continue to engage with the local schools to establish additional classes as required.

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.  

A list of all special classes, including classes opened for September 2020, is available on the NCSE website at .

Parents are advised to maintain contact with their local Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) for information made known by schools on vacancies in special classes already established and for the most up-to-date position on special classes in development.

SENO contact details are also available on the NCSE website at: .