Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on an appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28449/24]

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 NCSE has advised my department that this school recently expressed an interest in opening a special class. The NCSE actively encourages expressions of interest from schools to open special classes, and I appreciate and commend the efforts taken by boards of management in expressing their interest.

When considering to establish a special class the NCSE assess the needs in the local area. The NCSE identify schools in the neighbouring vicinity with available special class vacancies and assess their capability with consideration to demographical and statistical data. The NCSE advise my department that there are schools in the local area with existing vacancies.

The NCSE has also advised that the local special educational needs organisers (SENO) have examined the special educational provision requirements of the school based on its current student profile. This has resulted in the NCSE providing guidance to the school on additional supports for some students. As part of these efforts, the NCSE has allocated an additional special needs assistant (SNA) post, recommended Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) sessions and provided in-school advisor support. The NCSE will continue to collaborate with the school in this regard.

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.

383 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 16 are in County Limerick, this brings the overall number of classes in the county to 144.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally so that their needs can be taken into account for planning purposes. Local SENOs are available to assist and advise the parents of children with special educational needs and can be contacted directly using the contact details available on the NCSE’s website.