David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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704. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the lack of ASD units and classes for children with additional education needs in County Waterford; if her Department will ensure that children have access to the appropriate ASD education supports; her plans to address current waiting lists for schools that provide ASD education supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62988/21]

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. 

This 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. 

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. 

There are currently 46 special classes for students with autism in County Waterford. 30 of these are at primary level, including 3 ASD Early Intervention classes and 16 are at post primary level. Of the 46 classes, 9 were newly opened in the current 2021/22 school year  – 5 at primary level and 4 at post primary level.

The NCSE through their network of SENOs (Special Educational Needs Organisers) continue to engage in a process of establishing new classes for the 2022/2023 school year and beyond by looking at local information in relation to current and projected demand for special class places to cater for students with autism who have associated complex needs. The NCSE have specific plans in place to open additional ASD special classes in the 2022/23 school year.  

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning and placement purposes.

The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-servic.