Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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372. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the funding that is available through her Department for the provision and training costs for rapid prompt boards for children on the ASD spectrum at home and in school. [36176/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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Under the Assistive Technology scheme, as set out in my Department’s Circular 0010/2013, funding is provided to schools towards the cost of computers and specialist equipment, which are required for educational purposes.

All equipment provided under this scheme supports children with more complex disabilities who, in order to access the school curriculum, require essential specialist equipment.

It must be clear that the existing I.T. equipment in the school is insufficient to meet the child's needs. Where necessary, schools may also purchase new or additional equipment or software for students from normal school resources or funds.

The criteria which must be evidenced to qualify for support under the Department’s Assistive Technology scheme are that the professional reports state in each case that the equipment is essential for the effective education of the child, illustrating how the recommended equipment is to be used for educational purposes throughout the school day. Equipment may only be provided where medical and/or other professional reports outline that the degree of communicative disability is such that this equipment is essential to allow the pupil to access education and set out how the equipment will provide for this.

The type of equipment provided under the assistive technology scheme is varied, and includes audiological supports for students with hearing impairment, braille equipment for children with visual impairment, and computer equipment with associated modified software for students with physical or severe communicative disabilities.

Communication devices or medical or therapy related devices which are not specific educational interventions or equipment specifically required as essential for school educational access, and which have a general application outside of school, are not provided for under the Assistive Technology scheme, however. Such equipment is normally provided for children with disabilities by the Health Service Executive (HSE) under the Aids and Appliances Scheme.

Rapid Prompt Boards are communication devices that also have a general use outside of school and as such funding is not provided for Rapid Prompt Boards under the Assistive Technology Scheme.

Through its everyday work, the NCSE aligns its Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) with the Teaching Council’s national framework for teacher professional learning. One of the main aims of the NCSE is to support teachers and schools in a way that builds capacity, supports the inclusion of all children, including students with special educational needs, at a whole school level.

The NCSE provides a suite of professional learning opportunities for school leaders and teachers, which in turn, aims to improve educational experiences and outcomes for all students.

 The NCSE offers bespoke in-school support for either whole school staff, small groups, or individual teachers. The support can be tailored to specific TPL needs within a school, such as, in the areas of differentiation, planning, autism and behaviour. A school may contact the NCSE directly with regards to tailored training specific to their needs.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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373. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special school places there are in Stewarts Care, Palmerstown; if the school is at full capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36213/22]

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 a wide range of schemes and supports for children with special educational needs.

This includes additional teaching and care supports.

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

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide.

Over the last two years, my Department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year.

I am satisfied that this more joined up approach is delivering. Through this intensive intervention, we have seen over 300 special classes, providing over 1,800 new places, opened nationwide for the 2021/22 school-year.

I also acknowledge that 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 school places.

I can confirm that the NCSE is aware of an identified need for additional special school places for students in the Palmerstown area as referenced by the Deputy. Work has been underway with stakeholders for a number of years in this area to meet the demand for places. 

NCSE has well established structures in place for engaging with schools and parents and seeks to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements. 

NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for 2022/23 and beyond. There are specific plans in place to open additional special classes and every support will be made available to progress their opening in the shortest possible timeframe with a particular focus on September next.

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 and to support all students to achieve their potential.

I want to reassure the Deputy also 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

The list of special schools is available on the NCSE website at the following link:

ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/NCSE-Special-School-Allocations-21-22-website-03-12-2021.pdf.

and for special classes at:

ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Final-2021_2022-Sp-Class-list-25_03_22.pdf.

As your query refers to an individual school, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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374. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she intends to develop further services and supports to address the needs of children and young persons with autism; and if the implementation of such services and supports will be informed by feedback from members of the autism community. [36229/22]

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 and Inclusion, for my Department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The Deputy will be aware of many of the strategic initiatives already put in place, particularly in the last 2 years, to support and expand SEN provision in schools throughout the country.  An additional 300 special classes have opened in the current school-year providing 1,800 new placements. A further 315 special classes are already planned for 2022/23. Two new special schools opened in Cork and Dublin last September with two further special schools to open in these areas during the next school-year.

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 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.

The Deputy will also be aware that my Department has actively engaged in reviewing and updating the relevant legislation at this time. Earlier this week the Government approved the text of an Education (Provision in Respect of Children with Special Educational Needs) Bill 2022. This legislation provides for a truncated and more streamlined Section 37A process and also places additional duties on schools to co-operate with the NCSE in relation to making additional provision for children with special educational needs.

Every support will be made available to progress additional special education capacity, in the shortest possible timeframe with a particular focus on Dublin. The NCSE is in ongoing contact with the families of children who have not yet secured a special class or special school placement for the 2022/23 school-year. 

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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375. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) will be examined. [36264/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention.

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).

The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs.

Such support is provided in order to facilitate the attendance of those pupils at school and also to minimise disruption to class or teaching time for the pupils concerned, or for their peers, and with a view to developing their independent living skills.

Budget 2022 provides funding for an additional 1,165 SNAs (in 2022) to provide support to children with special educational needs, which will bring the total number of SNAs to 19,169 at the end of December 2022.

I am committed to supporting developing schools to ensure that resources are available to support their growing enrolment and the care needs of their students.

My department officials along with NCSE officials have been consulting with educational partners (school management bodies) representing developing schools in recent weeks to try to ensure that SNA resources are available to support these schools from the start of the new school year.

The school mentioned in the question was included in the list of schools discussed with the management bodies and I would urge the school in question to raise their resourcing concerns with their local NCSE Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) as soon as possible so that a review of their SNA resources can be prioritised.

All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, and the SENO is available to offer assistance and advice to the school.

Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.