Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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132. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she is taking to ensure the delivery of effective visiting teachers for children with hearing and visual impairment service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11293/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The NCSE was assigned responsibility for the management and direction of the Visiting Teachers Service for children with hearing or visual impairment with effect from 20th March 2017. It was set up to improve the delivery of education services to persons with special educational needs arising from disabilities with particular emphasis on children.  Formally established under the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (EPSEN Act), the NCSE now has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. As the visiting teacher service forms part of the NCSE support service for schools, the visiting teachers (VTs) are now recruited, deployed and managed by the NCSE.

The visiting teachers are qualified teachers with particular skills and knowledge of the development and education of children with varying degrees of hearing loss and/or visual impairment. They offer longitudinal support to children, their families and schools from the time of referral through to the end of post-primary education. They help children to develop tactile and sensory skills and give advice on self-help and other skills needed for independent living. They provide support in the development of pre-Braille skills, where necessary, and give instruction in mobility where appropriate.

Each VT operates in a particular region and manages a caseload of students. The VT supports children/young people, parents, guardians, teachers and other professionals involved with the child. Each VT works in partnership with parents to advise, and offer guidance, in matters pertaining to the child’s education and overall development. The frequency and nature of support takes into account a range of factors based on the individual’s needs.

Currently there are 43 VT’s allocated across the 10 NCSE regional teams, supported by teams of professionals and agencies such as audiological scientists, ophthalmology services, speech and language therapists, low vision specialists, psychologists, early intervention teams and school staff.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps that she is taking in increase the number of spaces in special classes in south-west areas of County Cork. [13536/22]

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 and Inclusion.

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. 

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 with additional needs nationwide. 

In terms of the area referenced by the Deputy, I can confirm that the NCSE is aware of an identified need for additional special classes for students with autism at primary and post primary levels in the South West Cork area.

Currently, a network of 45 primary school special classes, including 4 Early Intervention classes, and 22 post primary special classes provide 402 specialist placements for students with autism in the general South West Cork area, 7 of which were newly established for the 2021/2022 school year.

My Department is committed, in conjunction with NCSE and the network of local SENOs, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs and to support all students to achieve their potential.

NCSE is currently engaging with primary and post primary schools in the general South West Cork area regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond.

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.

I can assure the Deputy that every support will be made available to progress additional special class capacity, in the shortest possible timeframe, with a particular focus on this area for the 2022/23 school-year.