Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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156. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if children from Balbriggan with an autism diagnosis who are not accommodated in an ASD unit in Balbriggan can apply to be admitted to an ASD unit in Meath or Louth; if she will provide details of all available ASD units for the Balbriggan area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27695/24]

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.

My department and the National Council for Special Education (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.

If a parent wishes to apply for a special school place outside of their local area the NCSE will support and advise parents in doing so. However, the NCSE will continue to support the families of children in the Balbriggan area, who are seeking a local placements for September.

381 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year, 267 at primary and 114 at post primary level. Of these, 57 are in Dublin, this brings the overall number of classes in the county to 591. The vast majority of these are autism classes. A list of sanctioned classes is available on the NCSE's website at:

The NCSE expect to confirm some additional classes shortly to ensure that a sufficient level of provision is available. The NCSE is confident that through the provision of these new classes and vacancies in existing classes there is sufficient places to meet the needs of all children known to them for September 2024.

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.

Legislation also provides for the NCSE to have a greater role in the admission of children with special educational needs. This is something that would require significant engagement with the education partners and it is something my department and the NCSE is examining