Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of students with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with my department’s policies.

Special school staffing allocations will continue to be reviewed and updated each year by the NCSE. Special schools are staffed on the basis of their actual student profiles and the disability category of each student. The number of staff allocated to special schools is generally in excess of the original baseline allocations set out in guidelines dating back to the 1990's. This is in recognition of the work of many special schools in adapting their designation and admitting students with a wide range of special educational needs, in order to meet the needs of their communities.

The department welcomes and supports this practice and special schools are encouraged to expand their admission policy, in order to provide special school educational opportunities for students with the most complex needs. The department and NCSE see the strongest growth for additional special school placements from students with autism and complex learning needs, moderate general learning disability and severe/profound general learning disability.

It is for this reason special schools will continue to be staffed on the basis of each year’s current school enrolments and the disability category of each student.

The expansion of services within the NCSE has allowed for a 64% increase in the number of SENOs who at a local level are a pivotal point of contact for parents, guardians and schools. This increase of on the ground support in addition to the enhanced capacity of other services within the NCSE will bolster the level of service they provide and put in place effective structures to ensure schools are fully supported.

The provision of therapy supports for children with disabilities and the Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT) service is the responsibility of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and the Health Service Executive (HSE) and any queries in this regard should be addressed directly to DCEDIY and the HSE. Queries relating to primary care and mental health therapy services is the responsibility of the Department of Health.

My department is acutely aware of the extent of the challenge for all schools, and special schools in particular, in meeting the needs of children with complex special educational needs. I can assure you that my department is doing everything possible in our engagement with the HSE and the DCEDIY / Department of Health to ensure that therapeutic services are available to those children who most need those services.

In addition, the new Cabinet Committee on Children and Education and Disability, which includes all responsible departments and Ministers is committed to working to improve the lives of children and young people particularly those with a disability or special educational need and allows us as ministers to focus our discussion on matters such as therapeutic supports and examine any and all possible solutions to this shortfall in service.

Understanding behaviours of concern and responding to crisis situations is of critical importance, my department are currently finalising guidelines for schools in this area. The guidelines, which have been subject to extensive consultation with education stakeholders and advocacy groups, are underpinned by a rights-based approach.

The draft guidelines have been trialed in a number of special schools including the school referred to by the Deputy. Feedback from the trial schools has been very positive and will inform the final version of the guidelines, which are due to be published later this school year alongside a range of training options, including procured training on understanding behaviours of concern and responding to crisis situations. Special schools will be prioritised for access to this element of the training options in the first instance.

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.

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.

The NCSE has advised my department that the local special educational needs organiser (SENO) has been in contact with the family and continues to work closely with them regarding special education placements options.

Over 320 additional special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year. Of these 13 are in County Tipperary. The NCSE continue to sanction classes nationwide for the coming school year. As these new classes are sanctioned, the NCSE will support families to make applications for places. The local SENO will continue to keep the family updated on developments at local level and where places are available in further new special classes being sanctioned by the NCSE. My Department will continue to monitor this case with the NCSE to ensure that an appropriate placement can be provided for the new school year.

My department engages 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.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.