Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make provision for additional supports in the 2022-23 academic year and beyond in respect of a child (details supplied) at a school; the date on which permanent accommodation will be in place at the school; her plans to provide continuity of education for the duration of the child's educational journey; and if she will engage with the school in relation to the provision of supports for the child. [35968/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

I want to reassure you 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 construction of new school buildings for the school referred to by the Deputy is included in my Department's school building programme. It is intended that the new school will be located on a site being acquired at Donaghcumper, Celbridge as part of a campus development.

The campus development will be progressed by National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) that is supporting my Department by delivering an element of my Department’s school building programme, the Devolved Schools Building Programme 2, on its behalf.

My Department has agreement in principle for the acquisition of a site to accommodate the three school campus at Donaghcumper, Celbridge. The acquisition process is at an advanced stage. My Department is currently engaging with the developers to finalise the details of the Heads of Terms.

In tandem with the site acquisition, my Department is working on the accommodation briefs for the three schools which is part of the preparatory work associated with the architectural planning process. There is further preparation work still to be completed by my Department before the NDFA commences the process to appoint project management and design team for the project.

My Department is committed to advancing the campus development as quickly as possible and will keep the schools advised of progress in this regard.

While a full list of special classes and special schools is available on the NCSE website at the following links, I will also arrange to forward the details you have provided to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

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

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