Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

43. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to respond to the critical concerns of a parents’ group (details supplied) in respect of the significant disparity between available special education placements in primary and secondary schools in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38218/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

Over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year bringing the total number of special classes nationwide to 3,335 - 2,338 at primary level and 997 at post-primary level.

Of these, 16 are in Louth - 13 at primary level and 3 at post-primary level, bringing the total number of special classes in Co. Louth to 98 - 75 at primary level and 23 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these are autism classes which have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.

As demand for new special classes at post-primary level is expected to increase significantly over the next few years, due to increasing demographics and increasing prevalence rates, my department and the NCSE have engaged with post-primary stakeholders in relation to the provision of special classes.

In October 2022, my department wrote to all post-primary schools requesting that each school begin planning to provide for up to four special classes to meet the needs of children progressing from primary school. The department and the NCSE continue to have engagement with post-primary school management bodies in relation to the provision of special classes.

Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally for planning purposes. Local special educational needs organisers (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.

There are 3 SENOs in Co. Louth and the NCSE will be undertaking visits to schools during term 1 of this school year to assist with the forward planning of special class provision for the 2025/2026 school year.

My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.