Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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201. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to a lack of secondary school places for children coming from special schools in Cork city. [53954/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.

For 2022, 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.

For 2023, this spend will be substantially increased by over 10%, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion on special education.

This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.

This includes additional teaching and care supports. It also includes funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) for an additional 54 psychologists to provide services to special schools and special classes.

In 2022, funding for an additional 980 teachers and 1,165 special needs assistants was provided. For 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 special needs assistants in our schools next year.

For the first time ever we will have over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 Special needs assistants. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

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

At a national level, the NCSE has sanctioned an additional 394 new special classes for this school year 2022/2023, bringing the total of special classes to 2,546 nationwide. The 394 new special classes sanctioned for 2022/23 is broken down by 261 at primary level and 133 at post primary level. The 394 additional classes will provide 2,364 places for children with special educational needs who require a special class placement. Of these new classes sanctioned for this school year, 60 of them were sanctioned in Cork, with 38 at primary level and 22 at post-primary level.

In 2023, there will be a significant investment in the expansion of the National Council for Special Education, with a total full-year investment of €13 million, in over 160 additional staff. This investment is being undertaken so that the NSCE can respond effectively, compassionately and quickly to the increased need in our education system so that children and their families are fully supported and achieve the best possible education outcomes.

For 2023, budget funding provides for a further 370 special classes to open, taking the total number of special classes to over 2,900 in 2023.

My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

At local level, the NCSE is continuing to engage with schools regarding the establishment of additional special classes for the next school year 2023/2024. Every support will be made available to schools to progress the opening of special classes in the shortest possible timeframe.

Over the last two to three years, as the Deputy will be aware, my Department and the NCSE have worked with school patron bodies to open five new special schools, 2 of these are in Cork – Carrigaline Community Special School and Rochestown Community Special School which will open early in the New Year. My Department is also currently advancing the acquisition of a site in Glanmire which will facilitate the construction of a special school building.

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 you 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.