Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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65. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected demand for school places in mainstream primary schools for pupils with special educational needs for the school year commencing September 2024. [24129/24]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected demand for school places in mainstream secondary schools for pupils with special educational needs for the school year commencing September 2024. [24130/24]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the projected demand for school places in special schools for pupils with special educational needs for the school year commencing September 2024. [24131/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 66 and 67 together.

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. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class and special school places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements, consideration of school accommodation capacity and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

The information held on the department’s Geographical Information System (GIS), particularly in relation to student demographics, is a key component when forecasting the need for additional special class and special school places.

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.

Four special schools have been established for the 2024/25 school year in Counties Meath, Limerick, Kildare and Wexford, and a number of other special schools expanded. In addition, so far, more than 320 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE nationwide for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 225 are at primary and 101 at post-primary level. 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. The NCSE advise that there are also vacancies in existing special classes available across the country.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of establishing a special class in a mainstream school for students with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24132/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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My department secured funding of €2.7 billion for special education expenditure in Budget 2024 which will provide essential supports to children with special educational needs and allow for the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.

Each new special class requires additional funding for staffing and capitation. Professional development and professional supports for the additional special class staff is also required.

Capital funding may also be required to provide the necessary school accommodation and equipment supports for the additional special classes either through the provision of additional school accommodation or reconfiguration of existing school accommodation should that be considered feasible and appropriate. Additional funding also needs to be considered on an individual basis for students as they may be eligible for school transport, assistive technology and other such supports.

Schools receive the mainstream capitation rate and an enhanced capitation grant per student enrolled in a special class. In addition, the following grants are available;

• A special class start-up grant of €6,500.
• A grant of €2,500 for standard classroom furniture.
• A specialised furniture/equipment grant for individual students who require specialised furniture/equipment.
• An technology grant of €6,700 per new primary classroom in a new building.

Depending on the existing staffing schedule and number of active special classes already in the mainstream school, the mainstream school may be eligible for additional staffing in accordance with the circular on staffing arrangements for the relevant school year.

The capital costs associated with establishing a new special class depend on the school accommodation requirements which may be reconfiguration of existing school accommodation or provision of additional school accommodation.

The indicative capital cost for one class re-configuration of existing accommodation is estimated at approximately €300,000. Re-configuration cost varies depending on the condition of existing classroom.

The indicative capital cost for providing additional modular accommodation for each additional special class is estimated at approximately €500,000.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of each additional place for a child with special educational needs in a special school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24133/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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My department secured funding of €2.7 billion for special education expenditure in Budget 2024 which will provide essential supports to children with special educational needs and allow for the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.

An indicative estimate of the cost of repurposing an existing vacant building to establish a new special school for 24 pupils is approximately €3.75 million.

The department’s approach is to establish new special schools on campus sites so accommodation options may not be readily available. A new permanent building for a 120 student special school can cost of the order of €30 million. If being delivered on a campus there would most likely be additional costs involved to upgrade/extend the existing mainstream school as the quid pro quo for accessing the site.

Each new special school requires additional funding for staffing and capitation. Professional development and professional supports for the additional special school staff are also required. Capital funding is also required to provide the necessary school accommodation and equipment supports for the additional special schools. Additional funding will also need to be considered on an individual basis for students who are eligible for school transport, assistive technology and other such supports.

The department considers it reasonable to plan on the basis that each classroom in each special school is staffed with one teacher and three special needs assistants (SNAs). However, additional staffing resources may be required depending on the level of need of the individual students.

In addition to the individual classroom staffing allocation, each new special school will require a principal and deputy principal post.

The overall estimated cost of providing additional 100 special school places in 4 new schools, each catering for 24 pupils is over €18 million for the first year of operation.

This cost is comprised of €15 million in capital costs to repurpose existing vacant buildings to provide 4 new special schools of 24 pupils at a cost of €3.75 million each, and €3.1 million staffing costs providing for a principal, deputy principal, 4 teachers and 12 SNAs in each new school. The estimated capital cost is even greater if a new permanent building is to be provided for a new special school rather than repurposed existing vacant building.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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70. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeline for the operation of the Special Education Appeals Board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24134/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and wish to advise you of the following:

The Special Education Appeals Board was established within the EPSEN (Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs) Act 2004.

The EPSEN Act 2004 provides for the education of children aged under 18 years with special educational needs. The EPSEN Act 2004, is now in place for more than 20 years and there have been many significant changes and developments to policy relating to the education of children with special needs in that time. A few sections of the EPSEN Act have not been commenced, one of which would have conferred a statutory entitlement to an independent appeals process.

A review of the EPSEN Act 2004 was initiated by my predecessor Minister Josepha Madigan in December 2021 to modernise and reflect the experiences of students, staff and families. The review process includes extensive stakeholder engagement, including parents, educators, advocacy groups, and experts in special education.

Both commenced and uncommenced sections have been thoroughly considered to ensure a robust legislative foundation. The review process will culminate in a comprehensive report detailing all findings.

Online surveys, launched in November 2022, garnered over 28,000 responses, and qualitative analysis of open submissions has been used as the basis for the second stage of consultation, the focus group stage.

A variety of focus group methods are being employed, including mixed focus groups, mosaic-style engagement with children with special educational needs, and discussions with young adults who have experienced the special educational need model of education. The focus groups are due to conclude shortly. The report shall then be prepared for consideration.

The EPSEN Review Steering Group and Advisory Group will convene in June to analyse the extensive data and propose recommendations. Once the report is finalised, we will hold an open day in September to gather final feedback from all stakeholders. This review will serve as the foundation for updating the EPSEN Act, to ensure a solid legislative basis.

This significant review is intended to be concluded in third/fourth quarter of 2024, culminating in a comprehensive report that will encompass an analysis of stakeholder and public engagement, feedback from focus groups and open policy day, academic review paper, NCSE policy advice, evidence-based research and conclusions and recommendations.