Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the ASD provision for the Cork city and county areas ahead of the next school term; her views on whether there is enough capacity to meet the demands in the Cork city and county areas; if she has considered utilising existing legislation or bringing forward fresh legislation to deal with capacity issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24733/21]

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.

This year, over 20% of the total Education budget or €2bn will be invested in supporting children with special educational needs.As a result, the numbers of special education teachers, SNAs and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.

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

It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school.

The NCSE, through its local network of SENOs (Special Educational Needs Organisers), is available to provide advice and support to parents on the possible placement options available to their child.

There are currently 224 special classes at primary level in Cork and 87 special classes at post primary level. NCSE is planning to open a further 40 special classes in Cork for the 2021/22 school-year.

The number of primary special classes for children with autism has increased by 240% since 2015 to a current total of 166. The number of post-primary special classes for children with autism has increased by 205% since 2015 to a current total of 70. The NCSE is continuing to work with schools to provide additional special class places to meet future demand.

The Deputy will also be aware of the recent announcement whereby Minister Foley and I have secured a significant expansion of special school provision in Cork through the establishment of a new special school and increased capacity in an existing special school to meet the needs of children in the Cork area.

Priority will now be given to those children who currently do not have an offer of a school place for next September.

The provision of these 60 additional special school placements is to cater for the immediate requirements. I can assure the Deputy that my Department and the NCSE continue to work towards the development of additional placements in the Cork area to meet ongoing and future demand.