Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank the Deputy for his question and am pleased to take this opportunity to assure him and this House that not only will all vacant SENO posts will be filled, but there will be a significant increase in the number of SENOs employed by the NCSE. At present, there are 70 SENOs nationwide, out of a staffing complement of 73 SENOs. There is a recruitment drive for SENOs underway and the NCSE is also undertaking a strategic review of the organisation. This will see an improvement in how front line staff are allocated to best meet the needs of children and the schools which they attend.

As a result of the significant increase in funding that this Government provided to the NCSE in Budget 2023, the NCSE is now undergoing an expansion which will see a 50% increase in the number of staff employed. A huge focus of the increase in staff will be on front line services and this will see SENO numbers increased by at least an additional 43 staff.

I wish to acknowledge the challenges for children, their families and schools as a result of vacancies in NCSE, which were further exacerbated by a significant growth in the need for NCSE services in recent years. At present each of the SENOs is responsible for approximately 55 schools on average. In certain areas, particularly if there was intensive engagement on school placements or exceptional reviews, this could mean multiple visits to a very small numbers of schools, to the detriment of others.

It was a priority for me that the NCSE expands and develop its services to meet the needs of children with special educational needs in a responsive and child-centred way. That is why we are investing an additional €13 million for the recruitment of up to 161 additional staff into the organisation. It was very important that the NCSE plan effectively for this expansion and for that reason they have undertaken a significant organisational development review over the last 12 months. I am pleased to say this will be ready to roll out from January 2024.

The NCSE has undertaken a significant process of engagement with both internal and external stakeholders in the context of the organisational design process. It is critical that the NCSE took this opportunity to evaluate its structure, operating model and resource requirements in order to deliver on its strategic objectives and be responsive to the needs of students, parents and schools.

As part of the organisational design, the NCSE has identified key drivers in demand for services, underpinned by a robust analysis of data gathered over the last 5 years. This will ensure that the NCSE can best match current and future resources to specific areas of need on an individual county based, and that the NCSE will have a working model to project areas of future need so they can respond to and anticipate changing circumstances to meet the needs of children, their families and schools as they arise.

In addition, the new detailed organisational design will significantly change the structure of the organisation, including a doubling of the number of regional teams, all of which will contain SENOs and Advisors.

A nationwide competition for the recruitment of SENOs was advertised in October 2023 with a closing date of November 2nd for receipt of applications.

I am very pleased to report that there was a substantial response to the competition and it is currently moving through the various selection stages. It is intended that the intake from this recruitment campaign will commence in January 2024 and the new staff will be assigned to fill the small number of existing vacancies and to take up the new positions created as part of the NCSE expansion.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has plans for the establishment of a special national school for pupils aged four to 18 years in County Monaghan; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52846/23]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to assure you that enabling children with special educational needs to receive a high quality, appropriate 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. Further progress has been made in Budget 2024 where 26% of my department’s budget will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs, representing a 5% increase on Budget 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 and in 2024 a further 744 teachers, and 1,216 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 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.

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, 384 new special classes – 251 at primary and 133 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening in the 2023/24 school year.

I know that the Deputy has asked specifically about provision in Co. Monaghan, and I want to reassure the Deputy that both my Department and the NCSE will continue to monitor and review the need for further new special schools or the expansion of existing special schools in all areas of the country over the coming months and years.

It is particularly important to consider the distances that some of our students are travelling in order to access a special school placement, and this is a key consideration when we decide to establish any new special school or expand provision in an existing special school.

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.