Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected needs for school placements for special needs and autistic children in secondary schools, either by CHO area or by county, from September 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [34858/22]

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).

In 2022, we will spend over 25% of our total educational budget on providing additional supports for children with SEN. This represents an increase of over 60%, in total expenditure, since 2011.

We are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.

Continuing to add capacity in schools to support SEN provision is a key priority with a particular emphasis at post-primary level.

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

The Deputy will be aware that the Department is working actively with the NCSE and other key stakeholders including School Patrons and Management Bodies to provide additional special classes and special school places for the 2022/23 school year and beyond.

I will also arrange to forward your query to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.