Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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320. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the considerations that have been given to the case of a child (details supplied). [29397/24]

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.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised my department that they continue to support the family in identifying suitable special class placements. The local special educational needs organiser (SENO) remains available to provide support and advice to the family and is providing up-to-date information on places as they become available.

As Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, I am determined to ensure that all children who require a placement can access this as quickly as possible. I am meeting with NCSE every week to discuss progress being made and work plans to ensure that every child has a school place for the coming term.

Since June 19 last, when I met with D15 parents, five new additional special classes at primary level, each catering for 6 pupils have been sanctioned by the NCSE and work is happening onsite over the summer months, led by design teams employed directly by the Department, to ensure that any re-configuration works required for these schools is provided. The Department and NCSE are working with the schools concerned and their patron, to ensure enrolment policies, recruitment of staff and training are also finalised so that the children in Dublin 15 can access their placements for the 2024/25 school year. In addition to the 30 additional places created at primary level in Dublin 15, further additional capacity has also been created at two post primary schools in the area with the result that the NCSE is confident that there will be sufficient capacity for both primary and post primary aged pupils, known to them, in the Dublin 15 area.

383 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 62 are in Dublin, this brings the overall number of classes in the county to 596. The NCSE continue to engage intensively with schools and patrons particularly in the Dublin 15 area to confirm remaining classes.

The NCSE is confident that through the provision of these new classes and vacancies in existing classes there will be 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 this pressure on parents.

Additional administrative support staff, team managers and other professionals are also being employed to allow SENOs concentrate on working directly with schools and families.