Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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376. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children currently in special schools and special classes in mainstream schools; and if she will provide a breakdown by county and Dublin city and Cork city postcode. [8126/23]

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 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 providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and their schools.

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 to support children with SEN in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and 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 mainstream, 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 - three of the five new special schools were established in Dublin city and county. In addition to the new special schools, one existing special school expanded its provision to cater for 24 students on a second site on the North side of Dublin in October 2022.

There are 46 special schools in Dublin city and county. Of these, 5 are hospital schools and 2 are attached to CAMHS Units. There is an enrolment of over 2700 students within these special schools.

In Co. Cork, there are 15 special schools. Of these, one is a hospital school. There is an enrolment of over 900 students within these special schools. In addition, Rochestown Community Special School has recently completed its admission process and will open later in the current school year.

Special schools are established separately to mainstream schools. A list of all special schools is available on the website of the NCSE www.ncse.ie

Since 2011, the number of special classes in mainstream schools has increased from 548 to 2,544 for the start of the current school year 2022/2023.

This includes the 392 new special classes that have been sanctioned by the NCSE for 2022/2023. The 392 new special classes for 2022/23 is broken down by 259 at primary level and 133 at post primary level.

These new classes will provide 2,355 special class places, and in total the 2,544 special classes now provide 15,264 special class places.

New special classes have been sanctioned across all areas of the country, with a particular focus on large urban areas where demand is highest.

There are a total of 474 special classes in mainstream schools in Co. Dublin. Of these, 367 special classes are at primary level and 107 are at post primary level. In Co. Cork, there are a total of 420 special classes in mainstream schools. Of these, 299 special classes are at primary level and 121 are at post primary level.

It is of course open to any school to engage with the NCSE to establish a special class.

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

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. Where additional special school places are required, this may be provided through the establishment of a new school or the expansion of existing schools.

I want 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.