Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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353. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children that have special educational needs that were not offered a school place in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023. [55271/23]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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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. Further progress has been made in Budget 2024 where an additional €113m has been provided which will be dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.

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.

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 forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, 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. Just last week a further four new special schools were announced for the 2024/25 school year which will bring the number of special schools nationwide to 134.

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.

Planning for special classes nationwide is currently under way ahead of the 2024/25 school year.

This planning ensures that there is adequate provision for all children known to the NCSE as requiring placement in a special educational setting. The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs. My department does not hold records on the needs of individual student's in this regard, therefore the information requested by the Deputy is unavailable.

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. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) are 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.

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.

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Teaching Council is the professional standards body for the teaching profession, which promotes and regulates professional standards in teaching. The Teaching Council registers teachers under the Teaching Council Act 2001-2015 and in line with the Teaching Council Registration Regulations, 2016. The Council registers teachers under five routes of registration namely, Route 1 - Primary, Route 2 - Post-primary, Route 3 - Further Education, Route 4 - Other and Route 5 - Student Teacher. The minimum registration requirements for each route are set out in the Schedule of the Regulations.

The qualification in Montessori Education referred to has long-standing recognition with the Department of Education (DE) and was subsequently amalgamated into the Council’s Registration Regulations under Route 4. With the making of the 2016 Regulations it has been known that this is being phased out with a clear timeframe for same and this has been subject to extensive consultation with all relevant stakeholders. This qualification is only acceptable for registration under Route 4 Other where the application is made on or before 31 December 2023. Any Route 4 Other teachers registered with this qualification prior to this date will remain on the Register, and can continue to renew their Registration in the usual manner.

It should be noted that access to Route 4 Other remains in place and open for applicants who have obtained a qualification or qualifications in special needs education outside of Ireland, which on assessment by the Council is deemed of an equivalent standard to the standards required.

The Teaching Council works within Department policy and central to this policy is that all teachers who are teaching children with Special Educational Needs should be qualified Primary or Post-primary teachers in the first instance and may then apply for one of the Department of Education recognised qualifications in Special Educational Needs as outlined in the DE circular 0044/2019.

All Initial Teacher Education (ITE) programmes in Ireland that lead to registration must have professional accreditation from the Teaching Council. Registration under Route 3 (Further Education) of the 2016 Regulations is the route of registration available where an accredited qualification in the primary or post-primary sector is not held. Applicants who apply under this route must hold a degree qualification but are not initially required to hold a teacher education qualification (TEQ). Applicants who meet the degree qualification requirements and who have not completed an accredited TEQ are eligible for conditional registration for a period of three years in which time this requirement must be completed.

There are a number of Graduate and Post-Graduate Diplomas in the field of Special Education which are approved by the Department of Education and which can be used to add this sector to a teacher’s registration where the teacher also holds an accredited teacher education qualification.

The Department understands that there has been engagement between the institution providing the Montessori qualification referred to and the Teaching Council to discuss requirements should it wish to submit an ITE programme to the Council for the purpose of review and accreditation. Any such engagement is subject to the Council’s schedule for programme accreditation, and is a matter for the institution, and the Teaching Council in discharging its statutory functions.