Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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499. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of ASD units in Dublin 9 and 11, both primary and secondary; the location and number of pupils in each school; the number of applications each has received for 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26203/21]

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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500. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any school at primary or secondary level in Dublin 9 or 11 has applied to open an ASD unit for the next academic year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26204/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together.

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.  The Department of Education will spend approximately €2 Billion or over 20% of its total educational budget in 2021 on making additional provision for children with special educational needs this year.

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

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. 

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.  

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. However, the active collaboration of school communities is essential in this regard. 

There are currently sixteen special classes for students with autism attached to mainstream primary and post-primary schools in Dublin 9 and Dublin 11, including 1 Early Intervention class.

The NCSE is aware of an identified need for additional special classes at primary and post primary levels in the Dublin 9 and 11 areas and in the Fingal area as a whole.  The NCSE is working with a number of schools in this area to encourage and support the opening of new special classes at all levels and has specific plans in place to increase the number of places available.

Through ongoing consultation at local level, the NCSE is also aware of those parents whose children will be seeking placement for the 2021/22 academic year, including mainstream placement with appropriate support, special class placement, Early Intervention and special school placement. The NCSE continues to work to identify any and all relevant suitable placements.

I should also clarify that the NCSE does not maintain waiting lists for schools.  Boards of management of individual schools are responsible for such enrolment matters.

I can reassure the Deputy that the local Special Education Needs Organisers (SENOs) continue to be 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: . 

Information on the list of schools with special classes is available at www.ncse.ie 

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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501. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding and supports available for a school that has an interest in opening an ASD unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26205/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.

When the NCSE sanction a special class in a school (primary or post-primary), school authorities can apply to my Department for capital funding to re-configure an existing spaces within the school building to accommodate the class and/or to construct additional accommodation under my Department’s Additional School Accommodation Scheme (ASA). ASA application forms are available on my Department’s website www.education.ie.  Similarly, where special schools are requested to expand provision or wish to refurbish existing facilities, they may also apply to my Department for capital funding to carry out these works. 

As the Deputy is aware a Minor Works Grant is payable to all primary schools. This grant provides good flexibility at local school level to make improvements to the physical infrastructure of school buildings, including enhancement of facilities for special needs pupils.  The grant payment structure reflects the priority of supporting special needs provision with a grant rate for special needs students in special classes and special schools of 4 times the standard rate for mainstream students.  

Other furniture and equipment grants available to schools who are setting up an ASD class include:

- Start up grant €6,500

- ICT grant €5,000

- Furniture grant €2,500

- Multi sensory room grant €7,000.  (It can be awarded to a school who already has an ASD class but no multi-sensory room).

Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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502. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of ASD preschool places in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26304/21]

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.  The Department of Education will spend approximately €2 Billion or over 20% of its total educational budget in 2021 on making additional provision for children with special educational needs this year.

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

NCSE is planning a further expansion of special class and special school places nationally, to meet identified need. This process is ongoing.

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. 

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.

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. However, the active collaboration of school communities is essential in this regard. 

Through ongoing consultation at local level the NCSE is aware of those parents whose children are seeking placement for the 2021/22 academic year, including mainstream placement with appropriate support, special class placement, Early Intervention and special school placement. The NCSE continues to work at local level to identify any and all relevant suitable placements.  

I can reassure the Deputy that the local SENOs continue to be available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs.  

Information on the number of schools with special classes in County Kildare together with SENO contact details is available on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie