Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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262.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional supports that will be in place for a child (details supplied) who is beginning junior infants in September 2024 and has a full diagnosis of autism; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24632/24]

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.

The mainstream class teacher has primary responsibility for the progress and care of all children in their classrooms, including children with additional needs. In addition to this there are 14,600 SET posts to support children with additional needs across our schools.

All schools have an allocation of teaching support for pupils with special educational needs. The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation allows schools to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who require such support in their schools and for schools to deploy resources based on each pupil’s individual learning needs.

The Special Needs Assistant (SNA) scheme is designed to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. SNAs are not allocated to individual children but to schools as a school based resource.

It is a matter for schools to allocate support as required, and on the basis of individual need, which allows schools flexibility in how SET and SNA support is utilised.

The school can apply to the NCSE for a review of its SNA allocation if it is insufficient to meet the needs of its students. Detailed information on the NCSE Exceptional Review process is published on the NCSE website. .

The NCSE website confirms that the school in question has an allocation of SET and SNA support to meet the needs of pupils in the school.

Schools are frontloaded with SNA and SET resources for the purpose of supporting pupils with an identified and recorded special education learning need. These allocations allow schools to provide support for pupils who require such support in their schools based on each pupil’s individual learning needs.

Parents can discuss the level of SET and SNA support provided to their child with their school. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's present or future educational needs using the contact details available on .

As the Deputy's query refers to an individual case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

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, 300 additional special school places and will increase the number of teaching and SNA posts.

An additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs will be 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.

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.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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263.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a child in County Kerry (details supplied) will be allocated a special needs assistant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24635/24]

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.

SNAs play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs in schools. They ensure that these students are able to access an education which enables them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.

SNAs are allocated to schools as a school based resource and schools deploy SNAs in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated.

Schools can apply to the NCSE for a review of this allocation if it is insufficient to meet the needs of its students.Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE's website.

All schools have the contact details of their local special educational needs organiser (SENO), and the SENO is available to offer assistance and advice to schools. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on .

As the Deputy's query refers to an individual case, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

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.