Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the special education preschool facilities available for a child (details supplied) who has a diagnosis of autism and whose parents cannot find a suitable place for them. [21583/23]

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 NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with SEN nationwide.

The Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme provides up to two years of pre-school within the eligible age range, without charge. The Access and Inclusion Model (AIM), introduced in 2016, enables the full inclusion and meaningful participation of children with disabilities/additional needs in the ECCE Programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. A diagnosis of autism (or other disabilities/additional needs) is not required to access AIM supports. However, pre-school children with a diagnosis are generally supported in mainstream pre-schools with additional supports provided through AIM where required.

NCSE sanctions the establishment of special classes, including ASD Early Intervention (EI) classes where there is an identified need. I understand that, on occasion, EI classes are re-designated as school-age special classes to reflect the changing age-profile of students, the changing needs in an area and in order to ensure a continuation of support for students in the EI class who require a special class placement. Information on the location of EI classes is available on the NCSE website.

In relation to the student referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE has advised my department that they have no record of recent contact with the student's family.

They recommend that the family get in touch with their Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) to discuss the situation and explore suitable options for the student.

The local SENOs remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs: ncse.ie/regional-services-contact-list

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.

Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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293. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the name and location of the proposed new special school in Dublin 7; the proposed commencement date for the school; the estimated number of students that the school will cater for; the estimated number of teachers that will be employed at the school; what the enrolment process will involve; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21605/23]

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:

My department is committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential. My department strives to ensure that every child has access to an educational experience that is appropriate to their needs and supports both their academic and personal development.

As part of Budget 2023, my department’s budget was substantially increased, by over 10%, meaning that for 2023 the 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.

Additional funding is also being provided to allow the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) recruit additional staff, including Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs). These additional resources should ensure that the NCSE can better support parents and schools in relation to the provision of special education needs places.

Our policy, which is set out in the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 is that children with special educational needs should be educated in mainstream placements with additional supports provided as appropriate.

Where children require more specialised educational settings, such as special classes or special schools, the department and the NCSE ensures that the necessary resources and supports for such placements are provided in line with the needs of the child.

We have made a lot of progress over the last three years in terms of providing special classes and special school places 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.

There are a total of 2,537 special classes opened nationwide. Of the 2,537 special classes, there are 1798 at primary level and 739 at post primary level. We want to continue this level of progress to ensure that there are sufficient places in special classes and special schools for children who need them.

Just recently on 12th April, Minister Foley and l announced the establishment of two new special schools as part of a comprehensive update on enhanced education provision for students with special educational needs. These two new special schools will be established in Carrigtwohill, east Cork and Dublin 7 for the 2023/24 school year. This will bring to 7, the number of new special schools established in the last 3 years, 4 of which are located in Dublin. Capacity is also being expanded in 11 other special schools.

The new special school in Dublin will be under the patronage of City of Dublin ETB.It is intended that places in the new special schools will be prioritised for children who have no offer of a special school place for the 2023/24 school year. My department continues to work with the City of Dublin ETB and the NCSE in planning for the establishment of the new special school. Details in relation to the location of the new special schools, the admission process and the number of places to be offered for 2023/24 in each new special school will be confirmed very shortly.

Along with the two new special schools, I also confirmed that 218 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the coming school year 2023/2024, with more to be confirmed in the coming weeks – 126 at primary and 92 at post-primary level. Of these new classes, 29 are in Co. Dublin, with 15 at primary level and 14 at post-primary level. These new classes will bring the total number of special classes in Co. Dublin to 494, 376 at primary and 118 at post-primary. Additional special classes will be sanctioned in the coming weeks.

The NCSE has advised my department that it continues to work with schools to ensure all students identified as requiring places in the special class meet the Department of Education’s criteria for enrolment in a special class.

Parents seeking 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

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.

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.