Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which she is working to ensure that every child has a school place at primary and second level in Kildare North and throughout the country at large with particular reference to children with special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45020/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, for school planning purposes, my Department divides the country into 314 school planning areas and uses a Geographical Information System (or GIS) to anticipate school place demand. Information from a range of sources, including Child Benefit Data, school enrolment data and information on residential development activity is used for this purpose. In addition, Project Ireland 2040 population and housing targets inform the Department’s projections of school place requirements.

Having considered the projected requirements in each school planning area, including North Kildare areas, my Department then makes an assessment of the existing capacity and identifies any requirement for additional provision.

It is important to note that where enrolment pressures arise, it may not always be as a result of lack of accommodation but may be driven by factors such as duplication of applications or school of choice - this is, where pupils can't get a place in their preferred school but there are places in other schools in the area.

Through engagement with school authorities and patrons, and having accounted for factors such as duplication of applications, my Department has established that a requirement exists for increased provision at schools in North Kildare.

My officials are leading engagement with the relevant school patrons and authorities to put the necessary solutions in place for the 2024/25 and future school years. This includes the use of existing spare capacity, sanctioning of works to existing accommodation, and the accelerated provision of modular accommodation.

My Department has invested significantly in schools in County Kildare over recent years. Under the National Development Plan, a total of almost €250m has been invested in schools in County Kildare over the last five years. This investment has focused on provision of additional capacity to cater for its increasing population and there are further significant projects in our pipeline including for the North Kildare area.

These projects include recently completed new school buildings in Maynooth and Naas. Additionally, a number of further new school buildings and extensions are at construction or planned, including in Prosperous, Kilcock, Maynooth, Celbridge, Leixlip, Naas and Clane.

With regard to special educational needs provision, 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.

The National Council for Special Education, or 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 has also been progressing building projects for a number of special schools in Kildare, which include new school buildings for St Raphaels, Cebridge; St Anne’s Special School, Curragh; and St Marks Special School, Newbridge.

I can also confirm that ten new special classes – five at primary and five at post-primary level – were sanctioned by the NCSE for opening across Kildare in the 2023/24 school year. The Department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and also the more strategic and longer-term requirements.

I can assure the Deputy that the Department will continue to work with schools and patrons to ensure that there is appropriate provision for all students in North Kildare and across the county for the 2024/25 school year and into the future.