Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the process involved in applying for an ASD unit in a local school; the assessments that would be needed to be undertaken by the children involved; the requirements of the school in this process; the involvement of the local community in this process; the level of demand needed for a successful application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48791/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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It is my belief that children with special educational needs should receive their education in placements which are appropriate to their needs alongside their peers, wherever possible, unless such an approach would be inconsistent with the best interests of the individual child or other children in the school.

This approach is consistent with the provisions of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004.

My Department's policy is therefore to provide for the inclusive education of children with special educational needs in mainstream schools. The majority of children with special needs attend mainstream education with additional supports

This policy is supported by significant investment by this Government. The State will spend approximately €2 Billion this year on making additional provision for children with special educational needs.

Only where it has been assessed that a child is unable to be supported in mainstream education, are special class placements or special school placements recommended and provided for.

It is therefore not the case that special educational placements are required to support all children with special educational needs, nor is it intended that this should be the case.

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.

The NCSE has published on its website (at www.ncse.ie) Guidelines for Setting up and Organising Special Classes. The guidelines set out clearly how schools can set up and organise special classes, as part of a continuum of educational provision, for students with special educational needs.

I can also reassure the Deputy that the local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) continue to be available to assist and advise both schools and the parents of children with special educational needs.