Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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842.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason a child in County Mayo (details supplied) was deemed suitable for a place in an ASD unit and then when funding became an issue for the particular ASD unit, the child was advised that they did not meet the criteria for an ASD unit; if she will address this issue to ensure that this child does not miss out on a place in an ASD unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33201/24]

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 the student referred to by the Deputy has no professional recommendation at this time to support enrolment into a special class. The local special educational needs officer (SENO) is in ongoing contact with the family and providing advice and support to ease the student's transition from primary to post-primary school. The SENO is due to meet the parents in September to support the students transition to post-primary. School support via special education teachers will also be important.

I am determined to ensure that all children who require a placement can access this as quickly as possible. I meet with NCSE weekly to discuss progress and to ensure that every child has a school place for the coming term.

402 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year, 284 at primary and 118 at post primary level, providing over 2,400 special education places in mainstream schools. 8 of these are in County Mayo, 3 at primary and 5 at post-primary, which brings the total number of special classes in the county to 72.

The NCSE is confident that through the provision of the newly sanctioned classes and vacancies in existing classes there is sufficient places to meet the needs of all children known to them for September 2024.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local SENOs are available to assist and advise parents and can provide details on schools with available special educational places. Parents may contact SENOs directly using the contact details available on the NCSE website.

Significant additional resources have been provided to the NCSE to allow for their expansion. We will have 120 local special educational needs organisers at a local level in September who are a pivotal point of contact for parents, guardians and schools. This together with the enhanced capacity of other services within the NCSE, will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents when seeking a special education placement.

My department and the NCSE will continue to work to ensure there is a sufficient level of special educational provision where and when it is required.