David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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373. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a place in a special class or an ASD unit will be made available for a child (details supplied) in a second-level school in east Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57282/22]

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:

The NCSE has advised my Department that the local SENO is in contact with this student’s parents about his situation and is providing assistance and support.

The SENO is currently working with the post-primary schools in the area in the context of special class planning with a view to ensuring a sufficient number of special class places are available for the 2023/2024 school year.

My Department is 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. My Department strives to ensure that every child has access to an educational experience that is appropriate to their needs and supports both their academic and personal development.

Our policy, which is set out in the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (EPSEN) is that children with SEN should be educated in mainstream placements with additional supports provided as appropriate.

Where children require more specialised educational settings, such as special classes or special schools, the Department and National Council for Special Education (NCSE) ensures that the necessary resources and supports for such placements are provided in line with the needs of the child.

Over the last two to three years, my Department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.

These initiatives are bearing fruit with over 600 new special classes sanctioned at primary level, almost 300 new special classes sanctioned at post-primary level and five new special schools established over the last three years. The NCSE have sanctioned 103 new special classes at primary level and 46 new special classes at post-primary level over the last 3 years in County Cork.

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.

The NCSE have sanctioned a total of 2,545 special classes nationwide, with 1,803 at primary and 742 at post-primary. As the demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, my Department and the NCSE are engaging with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes. My Department has also recently written to all post-primary schools to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes

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.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available at: ncse.ie/regional-servic.

Information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes is published on the NCSE website and is available at www.ncse.ie.

It is open to any school to make an application to the NCSE for the establishment of a specialised provision and where sanctioned, a range of supports, including capital funding, is made available to the school.

My Department wants to reassure you also that it 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.