Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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409. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to increase the number of ASD units in primary schools in south-western County Cork. [48139/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.

The level of investment in special education, at almost €2 billion, is at an all-time high.

An additional 269 additional special classes have been opened this school-year. This brings the total number of special classes nationally to 2,118. The new classes provide 1,600 additional places, spread right throughout the country.

Two new special schools are also opening this year, one in Dublin and one in Cork.

Despite this unprecedented increase, I am very aware of the need for further specialist education places in a small number of areas, mainly concentrated in Dublin.

Currently, there are 38 special classes for students with autism attached to mainstream primary schools in South - Western Cork, five of which were newly established for the 2021/2022 school year. This also includes 4 Early Intervention classes, providing placements for students in the area. In Cork City and County as a whole, there are 228 primary school special classes providing placements for students with autism.

I acknowledge that any delay in securing a suitable school placement can cause much anguish for parents and families involved.

Delays can happen for a variety of reasons including, for example, assessment reports for children becoming available over the summer period while schools were closed. In other cases, parents may change their preference for a class placement and request that their child move from a mainstream class to a special class.

My Department and the NCSE have therefore put in place new planning structures and procedures to ensure sufficient places become available to meet local need. As new need emerges, there is a cohesive response available to ensure places become available in a timely and targeted way.

I am aware that the NCSE is currently engaging with four primary schools in the area referenced by the Deputy regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond.

The willingness of school communities to open special classes is central to ensuring that every child can obtain a suitable placement. My Department and the NCSE can provide the necessary funding, teaching and SNA resources, professional supports and training so that the required special class places can be provided as soon as possible.

I can assure 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: ncse.ie/regional-servic.