David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

330. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 134 of 14 February 2024, the progress made with respect to the application for additional accommodation for a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18050/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can confirm to the Deputy, further to Parliamentary Question No. 134 of 14 February 2024, that the school in question submitted an application for capital funding, under my Department's Additional Schools' Accommodation Scheme (ASA) for modular accommodation for a special class.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive (HSE). This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.

The Department of Education engages closely with the National Council for Special Education 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, 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.

Any school, who opens a special class and is willing to open a further class is to be commended. For the academic year 24/25, it may not be possible or appropriate to open new special classes in every school who expresses an interest or who has expressed a prior interest in opening a new class. In addition, some classes may not be needed for the coming school year but can remain an option if need arises in later years.

In general, demographics are falling at primary level and this trend is due to continue. Therefore the Department of Education in conjunction with the National Council for Special Education considers it prudent to maximise the use of existing spare accommodation capacity in National Schools within a general area in the first instance. This consideration is prior to the establishment of any additional special class that may require additional accommodation e.g. modular accommodation.

This approach can enable a special class to be established more quickly for the coming academic year as it is not bound by the provision of additional accommodation. This then means that the educational needs of children who require a specialist placement can be met at more easily. It may also allow for the earlier re-configuration of existing accommodation to occur in a more streamlined and efficient manner.

This overall approach is consistent with the Department’s commitment to supporting the educational needs of children who require specialist placements while at the same time meeting the requirements of the Government’s Infrastructure Guidelines.

Schools’ support for the establishment of special classes is most welcome. Where additional accommodation is indicated as being required, an analysis of both student demand and available accommodation in an area is required. In this regard, the Department is working very closely with the NCSE to ensure that this required analysis is thoroughly explored with a view to providing the most immediate and cost effective accommodation solutions for the establishment of new special classes for the 2024/25 school year.

In some instances this analysis is complete and the appropriate accommodation solutions are being advanced. In the remaining cases, the outcome of the analysis is nearing completion and schools will be advised accordingly. Your local SENO will continue to engage with you regarding the position and timing of the establishment of your previously sanctioned new class.

Whilst the Department is committed to the provision of special class provision for all students as close to their home environment as possible, existing vacancies, available school accommodation and the swift provision of a new special class in a school with the capacity to do so, will necessitate classes opening not within a preferred national school. The NCSE, through its SENO service, is however committed to sourcing a local class placement for each student within the closest possible distance to that student’s address.

To date, it has not been confirmed by the NCSE regional team that a class is required at the school in question for 2024/25 and in that context the application for additional accommodation is under consideration.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The school to which the Deputy refers was approved to enter the Department’s school accommodation pipeline of projects to provide a 3 Classroom SEN Base, 2 SET Rooms and 3 General Classrooms under the Additional School Accommodation (ASA) scheme. This project is devolved for delivery to Donegal ETB.

My Department has approved the project to go to the tender. The tender report was received by my Department in Quarter 4 2023 and is now under review by my Department in line with the requirements of the public Infrastructure Guidelines. Once this review has taken place, the ETB will be advised accordingly.

It is planned that close to 90 school building projects currently at tender stage will be authorised to proceed to construction over the course of 2024 and early 2025. These projects will provide new and modernised facilities to help schools cater for growing populations in their areas and include 138 classrooms for children with special education needs, which is a key priority for Government.

In total, around €800 million will be invested in these projects under the department’s Large Scale Capital Programme and Additional Accommodation Scheme for essential classroom accommodation.

This is a record level of investment in school buildings. It will expand the number of school places, significantly increase provision for special education and upgrade and modernise our school infrastructure. The impact of this will be felt in communities right around the country.