Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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672. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to her response to Parliamentary Question No. 56 of 7 December 2022, her views on a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63339/22]

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 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, 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 it does not hold records relating to applications received by schools from parents of children seeking enrolment or for special class placements. Enrolments to individual schools are a matter for each board of management, and therefore outside the remit of the NCSE.

With respect to the number of students waiting on a special class in the county, there were no students known to the NCSE in County Tipperary with a suitable special class recommendation who were unplaced for the 22/23 school year, and the NCSE is currently working with schools for the 23/24 school year to assist in establishing new special class places where schools and parents have indicated a need.

In terms of planning special class/school provision, SENOs engage with schools and with parents on an ongoing basis in order to identify where additional special class places may be required.

Parents seeking special class or special school places for their children are advised to make contact with the NCSE so that their needs can be taken into account in planning specialist provision and for updated information on placements in existing and newly established special schools/classes.

SENOs will continue to work with parents where there are new diagnosis/recommendations in respect of special placements. The contact details for the SENOs for the Tipperary region can be found at: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list

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.