Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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362. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will list each provider by location in County Mayo in which children with special educational needs can access placements in Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes including the access and inclusion model; and the number of placements available in each setting in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59188/22]

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 information requested is not held by the Department of Education. The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme is under the remit of the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Questions in relation to the ECCE programme should be directed to that Department.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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363. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will list each school by location in County Mayo in which children with special educational needs can access placements in an early intervention class attached to mainstream or special schools; and the number of placements available in each school in tabular form. [59189/22]

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 €2.3 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 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.

The NCSE have advised my Department that children generally access early intervention via mainstream pre-schools through the ECCE scheme with additional supports when necessary, through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). NCSE do not hold data on pre-schools or on allocations made through AIM which is administered by Pobal.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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364. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will list each provider by location in County Mayo in which children with special educational needs can access placements in early intervention settings or early years settings in HSE funded service providers supported by HSE grant aid or HSE funded pre-school assistant in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [59190/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

The information requested is not held by the Department of Education. The provision of HSE services is a matter for Health Service Executive. Questions in relation to the provision of HSE services should be directed to that body or to the Department of Health.