Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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355. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the plan to open a school (details supplied) as an autism specific school for the 2021-2022 school year; and if safe, socially distanced access to the building will be provided for a group in order to evaluate the building. [7870/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I am very pleased to have secured agreement to open a new special school at the location referred to by the Deputy. This is a much-needed development which will help to meet the demand for special school places in the area.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has identified that appropriate provision is currently required for approximately 40 special school places for students with autism and general learning disabilities in South Dublin.

This provision is required to be made available at the earliest possible date but no later than the beginning of the 2021/22 school-year.

While the initial provision of 40 placements is intended to provide for those students identified by the NCSE, it is also intended that any remaining placements will be made available to children in South Dublin with complex needs that require special school placement.

The NCSE will determine the staffing level for the school in line with normal procedures.

My Department will also consider whatever other supports are necessary to ensure the school is in a position to cater for the needs of these students upon enrolment.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department is working with the Patron to advance the arrangements for the opening of the new school.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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356. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which mainstream schools can apply for a support programme for special classes in order that pupils can access five hours of special education per week for four weeks given the application cannot be found on the website of her Department and has not been sent to schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7871/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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My Department recently announced an In-Person Supplementary Programme to support the education or care needs of primary and post primary pupils with complex needs. Full information including application forms has been provided to all schools.

This programme of in-person support is intended to supplement the teaching and learning provided by the student’s school and alleviate the impact of this period of school closure through the provision of 5 hours per week in-person teaching or care support to be delivered in homes.

Application forms and information are available through schools who are in the process of contacting the families of eligible pupils to assist them with the application process.

General guidance for Parents and Teachers/SNAs, information on the schemes terms and conditions, including Covid-19 guidance, is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/865df-in-person-supplementary-programme/ .An allocation of five hours per week of home-based teaching or care supports will be made available to eligible pupils for four weeks.

The support programme must be delivered outside of the normal school day (i.e. evenings and weekends), so that the student can continue to engage as fully as possible with the teaching and learning provided by their school.

The program cannot be delivered remotely or in the school building.

Any unused hours can be delivered to families at any time before 30 April 2021, including during the Easter holidays.