Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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53. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of complaints made to the Ombudsman for Children in 2023 concerning education, outlined in the Ombudsman's annual report; her Department's plans to rectify these complaints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23684/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Complaints in relation to schools and wider education matters are sent to the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and not directly to the Department of Education. The Office of the Ombudsman for Children deals directly with schools on specific issues raised by parents, and these are not collated by the Department. The Department regularly engages with the Ombudsman for Children to provide information to assist in resolving complaints.

Issues raised in correspondence from the Ombudsman for Children during 2023 include: Therapy in Primary Schools; Plan for places for Children with Special Needs; Exceptionally Gifted Children; SET allocations; NCSE Policy advice on Special Schools; and Emergency Works Scheme. The issues raised by the Ombudsman for Children during this time were generally requests for information and clarity on how particular matters were being dealt with.

Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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54. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the actions she plans to take following comments by the Ombudsman for Children at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Public Petitions that in assessing school places for children with special educational needs, local knowledge appears not to fit into a national plan to allow every area to get the funding they require from within her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23893/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I understand that this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their child for September and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to alleviate the pressures faced by parents when seeking a special educational placement.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through their special educational needs organisers (SENOs) work closely with families regarding options for school placements and other special education supports. Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally using the details on the NCSE's website.

My department and the NCSE work closely in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, work which is close to finalisation for the 2024/25 school year.

So far more than 320 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE nationwide for the 2024/25 school year. Of these 13 are in County Tipperary, 8 at primary and 5 at post-primary level. This brings to 133 the number of special classes in the county.

The NCSE continue to sanction some additional classes for the coming school year and is engaged in ongoing discussions with schools. As new classes are sanctioned, the NCSE will support families to make applications for places.

I have asked the NCSE to ensure classes are established as a matter of urgency and to keep all families seeking class places updated on an ongoing basis to ensure their children can access the provision to which they are entitled.

I referenced earlier that this government is committed to alleviating the pressures faced by parents seeking a special educational placement.

Significant additional resources and funding of €13 million have been allocated to the NCSE to allow for the expansion of its services, which will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents.

This funding has allowed for, among other things, a significant increase in the number of SENOs which will increase from 73 to 120 by next September. These SENOs will work closely with children, their families and schools on the ground in order to provide the necessary supports.

Additional administrative support staff, team managers and other professionals are also being employed to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.