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 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).

The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.

For 2023, the spend by my department on special education has been substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my 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 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, special needs assistants (SNAs) and funding for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).

In 2023, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 686 teachers and a further 1,194 SNAs.

For the first time ever there will be over 19,000 teachers working in the area of special education and over 20,000 SNAs. Together we have almost 40,000 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting children with special educational needs.

The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.

Over the last number of years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.

These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.

My department engage intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

As a result of this forward planning, earlier this year, Minister Foley and l announced the establishment of two special schools for the 2023/24 school year, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.

Along with the two new special schools, 389 new special classes – 252 at primary and 137 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year.

In Co. Wexford, there are currently 101 special classes in mainstream schools. Of these, 73 are at primary level and 28 are at post-primary level and 14 are newly sanctioned for the 2023/24 school year, 11 at primary and 3 at post-primary level.

As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.

In October of last year, my department wrote to all post-primary schools to advise them of the need to begin planning to provide additional special classes. It is envisaged that all post-primary schools will be required to provide special classes over the next 3 to 5 years, with an approximate average of 4 special classes in each school.

In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE have advised my department that an autism specific class was sanctioned for the school in December 2022 subject to local demand.

The opening of any new classes is based on receipt of information in relation to pupils with professional reports that meet the department's eligibility criteria for enrolment in autism specific classes and confirmation of available places in existing classes due to identified leavers. The NCSE continues to closely monitor all incoming information and liaise with the relevant local educational professionals to plan for pupils with special educational needs in the region and nationally.

The NCSE has advised my department that planning for special class provision in Co. Wexford for 2024/25 and onwards is ongoing. Their local team of Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO’s) are currently in contact with schools for confirmation of attenders and leavers for the 2023/24 academic year. This will facilitate the compiling of information in relation to special class demand. They will have regular meetings with their team managers to plan for existing special classes and identify possible new classes where they are most needed. Special classes are sanctioned to plan for current and future demand. Said sanctioned classes are then opened based both on local verified demand and in consultation with my department.

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 special educational needs organisers (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: www.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/special-classes

My department and the NCSE are 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.