Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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77. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans to ensure students with additional needs in mainstream classes have access to an SNA if they need it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57130/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I am very aware of the needs of students with special educational needs who need care support to attend school.

The role of the SNA is to support the class teacher to ensure that children with special needs can access the curriculum and participate in school life.

For this reason, this Government continues to make very significant levels of financial provision to ensure that children with special educational needs care supported to get an education appropriate to their needs.

The State currently spends in excess of 25% of its annual education and training budget (€9.2 Billion) on making additional provision for children with special educational needs.

This represents an increase of over 60% in total expenditure since 2011, at which point €1.247 Billion per annum was provided.

Budget 2022 provides funding for an additional 1,165 SNAs (in 2022) to provide support to children with special educational needs, which will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 at the end of December 2022.

545 of these posts are targeted to support students in mainstream classes with the remainder to support the opening of new special classes and special school places.

In overall terms, Budget 2022 provision represents an increase of 81% in the number of SNAs provided since 2011 at which point 10,575 SNAs were available.

Since 2020/21, schools are no longer required to submit applications with professional reports for individual students to access SNA support.

SNA allocations were carried forward unchanged, Schools are required to allocate the available resources to those with greatest need.

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.

Where circumstances change in a school and the levels of care need changes, it is open to schools to seek additionality through an exceptional review carried out by the local SENO.

SENOS are available to support families in relation to their children's education.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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78. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to address special education needs in south west areas of County Cork. [57268/21]

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.

It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion.

Next year, my Department will spend in excess of €2 Billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget on providing additional teaching and care supports for children with special educational needs.

This includes funding for a wide range of schemes and supports including special classes, special school places, SNAs and teachers.

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

The NCSE are aware of an identified need for ASD classes at primary level and post primary levels in the South West Cork area.

Currently, a network of 39 primary school special classes, including 4 Early Intervention classes, and 18 post primary special classes provide 342 specialist ASD placements for students in South-West Cork, 7 of which were newly established for the 2021/2022 school year.

Through ongoing consultation with schools and parents at local level the NCSE is aware of students who will be seeking placement for the 22/23 academic year.

The NCSE through their network of SENOs are currently engaging with 9 primary and 5 post primary schools in the general South West County Cork area regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond.

It is open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.

My Department works in close collaboration with the NCSE to ensure that the necessary provision is put in place on a timely basis throughout the country.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact their local SENO so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes.