Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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39. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for a further update regarding the urgent need for an ASD unit at a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44628/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I can confirm to the Deputy, further to the update provided in parliamentary question 108 of 11th July 2024, that my department received an application under the Additional Schools' Accommodation (ASA) Scheme in 2021 from the school in question. The application was for the provision of three special education classrooms and an in-depth review of the school site was undertaken given the restricted nature of the site. The review confirmed that the school and the site were at maximum capacity and that it would not be possible to provide the required accommodation on site unless vast amounts of existing single storey accommodation was to be demolished and replaced with two storey accommodation.

At that time, considering all the relevant impediments to deliver the brief of accommodation and the site constraints, the Department was not in a position to provide funding for the significant demolition of the school building. In light of this, officials in the department contacted the NCSE to advise them of same and to establish the special classes in other schools in the area.

Subsequently, funding was approved under the ASA Scheme in June 2022 for the replacement of a dilapidated prefab on site with 1 Modular Unit to accommodate 4 SET teachers. This project is devolved to the School Authority for delivery with guidance from the Department regarding use of the Modular Accommodation Framework. Department officials have recently confirmed to the School Authority that their Design Team need to commence design of the unit in conjunction with the nominated Modular supplier.

Following confirmation by the NCSE in January 2024 of the need for special classes in the area and the submission of an engineer’s condition report to the department in support of their proposal to knock and rebuild a portion of the school building, the department's Technical Team agreed to review the contents of the condition report. This review was undertaken and is now complete. However, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is continuing to review the SEN provision requirements in the wider area.

The Department met with the Patron on the 14th of May in relation to Scoil Eoin Ballincollig. The outcome of the NCSE review of SEN provision needs in the school planning area is awaited to determine next steps.

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. Over the last two years, the department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of each new school year. The Department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and also the more strategic and longer-term requirements.

It is my department’s priority to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to our schools to cater for the needs of children with special educational needs.

In 2024, the department will spend over €2.7 billion on special education and further progress will be made in 2025 as an additional €159 million has been dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. Over a quarter of the entire education budget has been dedicated to special education in recent years. The main supports this funding provides for are special classes, SNAs and special education teachers.

The NCSE has responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs nationwide. Over the last two years, the department and the NCSE have worked closely on a more streamlined and joined up planning process which has ensured a targeted approach to meet demand for special education placements ahead of each new school year. The Department continues to work with the NCSE in relation to the short-term requirements for special class and special school places and also the more strategic and longer-term requirements.

It is my department’s priority to ensure that all children have an appropriate school placement and that the necessary supports are provided to our schools to cater for the needs of children with special educational needs.

In 2024, the department will spend over €2.7 billion on special education and further progress will be made in 2025 as an additional €159 million has been dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs. Over a quarter of the entire education budget has been dedicated to special education in recent years. The main supports this funding provides for are special classes, SNAs and special education teachers.

The NCSE has advised that there are 3,337 special classes in operation nationwide for this school year. These classes can provide for over 21,000 students. 409 of these are new for the current school year – 289 at primary and 120 at post-primary level.

Over the last number of years, the department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient mainstream, special class and special school places.

These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,700 new special classes sanctioned and eleven new special schools established over the last number of years. The department engages intensely with the NCSE in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting best fitting their educational need. 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.

I want to assure you that the department will continue to support the NCSE and schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education appropriate to their needs.