Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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145. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a school place will be offered in the correct establishment for a child (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11989/23]

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 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.

The are 81 special classes in Co. Kerry. Of these, 55 are at primary level and 26 are at post-primary level.

Over the last three years, the NCSE have sanctioned 29 new special classes in Co. Kerry. Of these, 20 special classes are at primary level and 9 are at post-primary level.

There are three special schools in Kerry, including the school identified by the Deputy. The school's admission policy states that all decisions on applications for admission to the school will be based on the school’s Admission Policy, the school’s Annual Admission Notice, and the the information provided by the applicant in the school’s official application form received during the period specified in our Annual Admission Notice for receiving applications. The school's Admissions Notice for the school year 2023/24 states that the school ceased accepting applications for admission for the 2023/24 school year on 11th November 2022 and that the school will consider and issue decisions on late applications in accordance with the school’s admission policy.

Parents seeking special school and special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available 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 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.

As your query refers to an individual placement case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.