Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the availability of ASD specific school places at primary school level in the Dublin mid-west area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57485/22]

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 (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).

For 2022, my Department will spend in excess of €2.3 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 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 funding for new special classes, new special school places, additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.

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

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. Across the Dublin region, the NCSE have sanctioned 156 new special classes and primary and 52 new special classes at post-primary over the last 3 years.

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 of 31^stOctober, there have been 393 new special classes open for the 2022/2023 school year, bringing the total of special classes to 2,545 opened nationwide. The 393 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 260 at primary level and 133 at post primary level.

For 2023, at least a further 370 special classes will open, taking the total number of special classes to over 2,900 in 2023.

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.

It is important to note that where possible, children with special educational needs should be accommodated in mainstream education, but where the needs of the children are greater, special classes and indeed special schools are provided. Every effort should be made where special classes exist within a mainstream school to integrate the children and young people in this class with their peers in mainstream classes.

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 appropriate education.

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.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide a progress report on a special education site in Glanmire, County Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57355/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Over the last two years, the Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of each new school year.

This intensive intervention has seen the establishment of a new special school in Cork, Rochestown Community Special School, as well as providing for increased capacity in existing special schools in Cork. Planning for the opening of the new special school has begun. The new school will be located in Rochestown, in a premises expected to become available in early 2023 and will support children and young people with autism and complex learning needs up to 18 years of age.

The Department and NCSE are satisfied that these measures will meet requirements for places in special schools in Cork, including those that have no place for the current school year.

In addition, and as part of future proofing of provision, the acquisition of a site at Brooklodge, Glanmire is progressing. Approval has been granted by the Elected Members of Cork City Council to dispose of this site and the conveyancing process and transfer of this land to the Minister is ongoing.

The Department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and also the more strategic and longer-term requirements.

This year, my Department will invest in excess of €2 billion, or over 25% of the Department’s budget in the area of special educational needs support. As a result the numbers of special education teachers, special needs assistants and special class and school places are at unprecedented levels.