James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide additional early intervention classes in pre-schools (details supplied) due to increased demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25881/23]

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 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 special educational needs 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. Responsibility for provision in the early years sector lies with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).

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 early intervention classes where there is an identified need. There are currently 151 early intervention classes nationwide. The NCSE have sanctioned a further 10 new early intervention classes for September 2023. This will bring the total number of early intervention classes to 161.

On occasion, early intervention 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 early intervention class who require a special class placement.

The NCSE's local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs. The contact details for SENOs and information on the list of schools with special classes, the types and locations of these classes can be found on the NCSE's website at: www.ncse.ie

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.

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.