Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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798.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place to provide early intervention preschools in counties Sligo and Leitrim. [32639/24]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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799.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans in place to establish an autism preschool with early intervention places in County Sligo and County Leitrim. [32642/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 798 and 799 together.

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).

A number of initiatives are provided by the State within an early years setting to support children with special educational needs, these include;

The Early Childhood Care & Education Scheme (ECCE) and the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) under the remit of the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and Early Intervention (EI) classes in mainstream and special schools, which are under the remit of my department.

EI classes are intended to provide early support for children aged between 3-5 years of age with autism, however, there are also a small number for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. EI classes are established in school settings and follow the same junior/senior infant day i.e., 4 hours 40 minutes, however, schools, in consultation with parents, may reduce the length of the school day for 3-year-olds who are unable to manage a full. Many children who attend an EI class attend a mainstream class when they formally enter primary school.

The NCSE sanction the establishment of EI classes in school settings where there is identified need. For the 2023/34 school year there were 157 EI classes nationwide and seven new classes have been sanctioned for the 2024/25 school year.

Overall 402 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the new school year, 3 in Sligo and 4 in County Leitrim. This brings the overall number of special classes in County Sligo to 32, 17 at primary level and 15 at post primary level. Of these 32 special classes, 1 is an Early Intervention class and 31, 16 at primary level and 15 at post primary level in County Leitrim.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally. Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) can assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs of placement options available in their local areas. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE’s website.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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800.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of WTE SNAs, SETs and EALs employed at primary and post-primary level; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32674/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I would like to thank the deputy for the question.

The following table outlines the details requested in relation to mainstream class supports.

In addition a total of 238 temporary SET Posts are provided to schools (135 at primary and 103 at post primary to support Ukrainian and IPAS enrolments and 328 Temporary SNA post are provided to schools (185 at primary and 143 at post primary to support Ukrainian and IPAS enrolments.