Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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86. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which adequate provision continues to be made to meet the requirements as set out by the various school authorities and boards of management at all primary and second level schools throughout the country and in County Kildare; the extent to which special needs accommodation and classes are likely to feature in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34889/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.

It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

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. 

As a result, the number of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and special school places are at unprecedented levels. 

Notwithstanding the extent of this investment, there are some parts of the country where increases in population and other issues have led to concerns regarding a shortage of special class and special school places.

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.

A range of strategic initiatives have been put in place with the NCSE in recent years to support and expand SEN provision in schools throughout the country.

These initiatives include enhanced arrangements for the planning and coordination of SEN provision requirements involving my Department, the NCSE and key stakeholders such as Patrons and Management Bodies.  

Our planning utilises the Department’s Geographic Information Management System (GIS) to support a strategic and coordinated approach to the delivery of SEN provision.  This includes “real-time” data on capacity across the school system.

This has resulted in a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of each new school year.

I am satisfied that this approach is delivering.

This intensive intervention has seen over 300 special classes already opened nationwide for the 2021/22 school year as well as the establishment of two new special schools in Cork and Dublin.

In terms of Kildare,  I can confirm that the NCSE is aware of an identified need for additional special classes for students with autism in primary and post-primary schools.  Work has been underway with stakeholders for a number of years to meet the demand for places.

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

My Department is committed, in conjunction with the NCSE, to continue to work with parents, schools, patrons and all stakeholders to ensure that there are sufficient appropriate places for students with additional needs.

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

I also want to reassure the Deputy that my Department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the supports that are in place for schools to administer the summer programme 2022; the expected take-up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34979/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Building on the last year’s summer programme all primary and post primary schools can offer a programme. In line with last year’s funding, there is up to €40 million available to provide for this year’s programme.

A key objective of this year’s scheme is to increase the number of schools offering the summer programme to their students. Steps have been taken to afford schools as much flexibility as possible, and to ease administrative burdens. This year there is provision to recruit newly qualified teachers graduating this summer as well as undergraduate student teachers who have registered with the Teaching Council under Route 5.

To support and facilitate schools and principals with organising and running the programme, the 2022 Summer Programme allows principals to delegate these functions to other members of staff through the Overseer role and preparation hours. The Overseer and preparation roles provide an exciting personal opportunity for teachers to develop their leadership skills and experience with recognition at a whole-school level.

Capitation funding and preparation hours are provided to schools who participate in the programme, with additional funding and hours provided to schools that run the Special Class and Special School Programme.  Further funding has since been made available to Special Schools, in recognition of the extra complexities in running programmes in their schools.

This year, for the first time, there will be an online claims system for schools to submit payments details for those staff taking part in the school based summer programme. This will provide for faster and more streamlined payments to staff.

In addition, with the assistance of the National Association of Management Boards in Special Education (NAMBSE), the Department and Inspectorate recently hosted a webinar for Special Schools and provided a presentation on the supports and benefits of running a school based summer programme. The presentation focused on the positive outcomes for students that participated in the 2021 programme.

While the number of special schools and classes taking part has risen over the last 2 years, we want to continue this growth in participation further. The Department will continue to work with all stakeholders to support parents in accessing summer provision and with schools to ensure that they have the resources and supports necessary to successfully run these programmes.

Currently, it still remains open for schools to contact the Department in respect of the Summer Programme. The final numbers participating in the Summer Programme will not be available until after the programme concludes. However it is anticipated there will be an increase in the number of schools with over 1,000 schools indicating they are taking part compared to 945 in 2021. The number of children taking part will only be known when the programmes have been completed.