Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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202. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to confirm the number of children in south Tipperary who are currently engaged with the SENO and NCSE and who are yet to have a school placement confirmed for September 2024; the number of children who require a placement in a special school in south Tipperary and have yet to receive confirmation of placement for September 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23584/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I understand that this is an anxious time for parents seeking a school place for their children and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to do all it can to help families seeking a special educational placement for their child.

My department works closely with the National Council for Special Education in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. In the Budget last year funding was secured for up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools, and an additional 300 special school places for the 2024/25 school year. This will deliver 2,700 new places for children.

The NCSE has advised my department that over 320 new special classes have already been sanctioned nationwide for the coming 2024/25 school year, providing over 1,900 special education places in mainstream schools. of these 13 are in Tipperary 8 at primary and 5 at post-primary level. This brings to 133 the number of special classes in the county.

There are now over 3,000 special classes in our education system providing places for over 20,000 students.

We have also opened four new special schools for September 2024 and increased capacity in a number of existing special schools to ensure that more children than ever can access an education which is appropriate to their needs.

My department and the NCSE are actively engaging with school patrons and management bodies to ensure additional special classes for the coming school year are provided in areas where they are needed.

I expect these remaining new special classes will be finalised in the coming weeks and that this additional provision – coupled with vacancies in existing special classes - will provide the additional capacity needed.

It is important to note that there are vacancies in existing special classes as children move from primary to post primary or leave our school system. These places are filled on an ongoing basis.

Furthermore, the NCSE is working with schools who may be available to open classes for September 2024 but whose capacity may not be required at this time. They will remain options for additional provision if required throughout the 2024/25 school year.

I am therefore satisfied that we have created the additional capacity required to meet the needs of children known to the NCSE for September 2024.

The enrolment process for school places takes place at local school level, with decisions on admission resting with individual schools. Therefore, the position for each child will continue to evolve as the enrolment processes - some of which are still underway for new classes - comes to a conclusion.

This government has heard the voice of the parents in regard to the anxiety faced when seeking placement in a special educational setting.

For that reason, this government has provided significant additional resources to the NCSE to allow for their expansion. We will have 120 local special educational needs organisers at a local level in September who are a pivotal point of contact for parents, guardians and schools. This increase in on-the-ground support coupled with enhanced capacity of other services within the NCSE will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents.

The NCSE are working tirelessly with the families known to them to access specialist places and this will continue until children are in the places they need to be to ensure they have an appropriate education.