Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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382. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on a planned extension for a school (details supplied). [44145/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, that the school in question has submitted an application for capital funding, under my Department's Additional School Accommodation (ASA) Scheme.

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.

For 2024, €2.7 billion is being spent on special education, an increase of €113 million, and this is dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. This will allow for, amongst other things, the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.

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

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children nationwide. The Department and the NCSE are working closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process to ensure a targeted approach to meet demand for special needs placements ahead of each new school-year and is committed to delivering an inclusive educational environment for all pupils. The Department and the NCSE continue to work closely in planning for the delivery of new places required to meet forecasted demand. The forward planning for special education includes a new circular letter 0080/2024 on following: www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/307240/e9d91698-f60e-40e1-acd4-0fc630d3d104.pdf#page=null, setting out new measures to support the forward planning of special education provision. This was issued in early October by the Department to all schools, following intensive stakeholder engagement.

In relation to the provision of school places for children in Tipperary with additional needs please I can advise that the department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places. This forward planning work is well underway ahead of the 2025/26 school year. This work involves a detailed review of statistical data in relation to forecasting demand for special class places, an analysis of available school accommodation, consideration of improved data sharing arrangements and a particular focus on the provision of special classes at post-primary level.

Under Project Ireland 2040, the education sector will receive a total of approximately €4.4 billion capital investment over the period 2021-2025. This significant investment allows us to move forward with certainty on our ambitious plans and deliver high quality building projects, with a real focus on sustainability, for school communities across Ireland. This investment will build on the good progress being made on adding capacity to cater for demographic changes and provision for children with special educational needs. This investment will also facilitate an increased focus on the modernisation of existing school stock and help transition the school system for an era of net zero carbon by 2050.

Since 2020 over 50 school building projects have been completed in special schools delivering over circa. 220 new classrooms and over 760 new classrooms for SEN provision have been built in mainstream schools.

I can confirm to the Deputy that the Department is currently assessing options with a view to identifying the optimum solution for the long-term accommodation needs of the school. In this regard the Department approved the provision of modular accommodation of 4 classrooms for Scoil Aonghusa to cater for immediate needs. This project has since been completed.

The Department has had on-going engagement with this school with a site visit by the Department's Professional Technical team carried out.

My officials will continue to engage with the school as part of the assessment process for the school’s longer-term accommodation needs with a view to making the most appropriate provision possible for the school and for its current and future students.

I would like to assure the Deputy are working to get a decision communicated to the school as soon as possible.