Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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391. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on the supports available for students with a diagnosis of dyscalculia in post primary education, in particular, supports to help students with Leaving Certificate maths. [8275/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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It is the policy of the Department of Education, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that pupils with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary. Primary and post-primary schools make provision for pupils’ special educational needs (SEN) through a continuum of interventions ranging from additional support teaching in mainstream schools to placement in a special class, or in some cases, enrolment in a special school. Schools are provided with the resources, through the special education teacher allocation model, to assist them in meeting the needs of their students, including those with literacy and numeracy difficulties. Schools are required to target their additional resources at those students requiring the greatest level of support.

The State Examinations Commission (SEC) facilitates access to the certificate examinations by candidates who would have difficulty in accessing the examination or communicating what they know to an examiner because of a physical disability, including visual and hearing impairments, a medical or other condition, including sensory and mental health conditions, or a learning difficulty. The access scheme is referred to as the scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Certificate Examinations or RACE Scheme.

The purpose of the scheme is to allow candidates who have special educational needs that interfere with their capacity to engage with the standard examination arrangements to demonstrate what they know and can do, without compromising the integrity of the assessment. This involves such students being held to the same standard as other candidates with regard to what the examination is intended to measure.

In common with similar schemes which operate in other jurisdictions, the focus of the RACE scheme is on the need to remove barriers to accessing the examinations, while retaining the need to assess the same underlying skills and competencies as are assessed for all other candidates, and to apply the same standards of achievement as apply to all other candidates.

I am advised that the access arrangement provided by examining bodies in other jurisdictions to students with dyscalculia is access to a calculator in mathematics, science and other technical examinations. The SEC allows all students to use electronic non-programmable calculators in all examinations in accordance with Rule 74 of the Rules and Programme for Secondary Schools.

Also, under the RACE scheme, the SEC will also consider applications for use of other forms of assistive technology (other than those named in the scheme) in the examinations as set out in the Instructions for Schools.

Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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392. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department has any plans to add more special school places for north Dublin in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8303/23]

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 2,700 students within these special schools. A list of all special schools is available on the website of the NCSE: 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.