Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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1068. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will develop a centralised national database for children with special needs at primary and secondary level to streamline forward planning by the National Council for Special Education and ensure that school supports and placements are provided within local communities. [30933/22]

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.

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 with special educational needs nationwide.

Recognising some of the difficulties experienced by parents in securing appropriate school placements, over the last two years, the Department of Education and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process. This has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year.

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.

Additionally, it is general practice to include a SEN Base in the accommodation brief for new school buildings, unless exceptional local circumstances indicate that it will not be required. The extent of provision made at these schools is informed by the level of demand in the area as well as the size of the school.

I can also clarify that the NCSE maintains records of students enrolled in special classes, students enrolled in special schools as well as students seeking places in special classes and special schools.

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