Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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331. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on a permanent site for additional special education needs in south Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42550/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise that enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government. 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.

For 2023, the spend by my Department on special education will be substantially increased by over 10% on last year, meaning that for 2023 my Department will spend over €2.6 billion providing supports to children and young people with special educational needs and their schools.

This level of educational funding and support is unprecedented and represents in excess of 27% of the Department’s total allocation for 2023.

This includes funding to support children with SEN in mainstream classes; funding for new special classes and new special school places; additional special educational teachers and special needs assistants.

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.

My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

Arising from this work, four new special schools were established for the 2024/25 school year, including a new special school to serve Kildare. The establishment of a further five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year has recently been announced.

In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, my department continues to examine potential sites for the school's long-term location and this will be confirmed in due course.

Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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332. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has investigated the former site of a school (details supplied) in Monasterevin, as a permanent site for additional special education needs in south Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42551/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The property to which the Deputy refers is understood to be in the ownership of the local parish and it is also understood that there are plans in place for its future use.

I would like to assure the Deputy that enabling children with special educational needs (SEN) to receive an education appropriate to their needs is a priority for this Government.

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide.

My Department is engaging intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

Arising from this work, four new special schools were established for the 2024/25 school year. The establishment of a further five new special schools for the 2025/26 school year has recently been announced.

As the Deputy is aware, the four new special schools established in 2024 included a new special school to serve Kildare which was established under the patronage of Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board. The initial start-up location for the new special school in Kildare is at the Craddockstown Education Campus beside Naas Community National School. My Department continues to examine potential sites for the school's long-term location and this will be confirmed in due course.

With respect to special school provision more generally across the county, there are also new school building projects planned or in train for St. Raphael’s Special School, St. Anne’s Special School and St. Mark’s Special School.