Written answers
Wednesday, 1 May 2024
Department of Education and Skills
Special Educational Needs
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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149. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when and where a child (details supplied) in south Tipperary will be given a school place in an autism class for September 2024; if the NCSE will engage urgently with the parents to ensure this child will get an appropriate school place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19659/24]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, 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 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 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.
In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs 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 these children.
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 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, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
In addition, four new special schools will be established for the 2024/25 school year in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years.
Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 390 new special classes – 254 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE.
Of these 14 are in Tipperary, 5 at primary level and 9 at post-primary level. This brings to 120 the number of special classes in County Tipperary, 76 at primary level and 44 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these class are autism classes and have a teacher/pupil ratio of 1:6.
Planning for special classes and special school places in County Tipperary and nationwide is currently underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. The locations of new classes for 2024/25 will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly.
As your query refers to a placement for an individual student, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
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 the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE's website 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.
Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is aware of the frequent assaults on special education teachers; if she will ensure that assault leave is increased to cover the duration of assault injuries; if she will ensure her Department meets the costs of medical bills and counselling for employees arising from assaults; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19660/24]
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Leave of Absence following Assault Scheme is contained in the Department’s Circular Letter 0061/2017 for teachers and 0062/2017 for SNAs. It provides for special leave with pay (subject to specified limits) to a teacher or special needs assistant who is unable to perform their duties due to a physical injury following an assault that happened in the course of their duties and during approved school activities.
The leave available under the Scheme for Leave of Absence following Assault is 3 months (92 days) at full pay in a rolling 4-year period. In exceptional cases, such as where a significant period of hospitalisation is required or in situations of a second or subsequent incident of assault, the leave may be extended for a further period not exceeding 3 months (91 days) at full pay, subject to an overall limit of 6 months (183 days) at full pay in a rolling 4-year period.
Any subsequent absence will be dealt with under the Sick Leave Scheme. When calculating a teacher’s entitlement, any Assault Leave/Leave of Absence following Assault granted in the previous four years from the current absence will be taken into account in determining access to leave under this scheme.
A Leave of Absence following Assault ends on:
• The ceasing of the certification by a duly qualified medical practitioner of the physical injury; or • the maximum leave limits available under this scheme being exhausted; • or certification of fitness to return to duties.
A Teacher/SNA who has exhausted the maximum period of paid leave under the Scheme for Leave of Absence following Assault and who is still medically unfit to resume duty may avail of Sick Leave under the Sick Leave Scheme, subject to the normal rules of that scheme. Circular 0013/2024 sets out the details of the Sick Leave scheme for teachers. Circular 0014/2024 sets the details of the Sick Leave scheme for SNAs.
The Employee Assistance Service is available as a supportive resource for teachers and SNAs. The freephone confidential helpline is 1800 411 057 and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Supportive resources may include short term counselling (up to six sessions). If the EAS recommends additional short-term counselling sessions with the teacher or SNA, the Department can facilitate this request.
The Leave of Absence following Assault Schemes for teachers and SNAs are currently the subject of review, to which the Department of Education, management representatives and Unions are all party.
Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills where a child (details supplied) in south Tipperary will be given a school placement in September 2024; if she will ensure that the NCSE offers appropriate assistance to the family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19674/24]
Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority 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 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.
In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs 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 these children.
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 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, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
In addition, four new special schools will be established for the 2024/25 school year in counties Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. This will bring to 11 the number of new special schools established in recent years.
Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 390 new special classes – 254 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE.
Of these 14 are in Tipperary, 5 at primary level and 9 at post-primary level. This brings to 120 the number of special classes in County Tipperary, 76 at primary level and 44 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these class are autism classes and have a teacher/pupil ratio of 1:6.
Planning for special classes and special school places in County Tipperary and nationwide is currently underway ahead of the 2024/25 school year. The locations of new places for 2024/25 will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly.
In relation to the student referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE has advised my department that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) is working closely with the family regarding special education placements options.
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 SENOs are available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE's website 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.
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