Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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481. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration is being given to accommodating a pupil (details supplied) at a school through a commitment to providing them with teaching and SNA staffing throughout each year of the student’s time at that school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45117/24]

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 me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, 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 responsibility for coordinating and advising on the education provision for children with special educational needs. The NCSE advise that they have met with the school referred to by the Deputy to discuss the enrolment of the child referred to by the Deputy. The NCSE are also discussing any additional resources required to meet the student's needs. The NCSE advise that a further update from the school is due very shortly and the NCSE will keep the family updated this week.

Almost 1,700 new special classes have been established in recent years, eleven new special schools have been established and many more have been expanded. For this school year alone, over 400 new special classes have been sanctioned with classes provided in every county, and four new special schools have been established.

138 of these classes are in County Tipperary, 16 are new for the 2024/25 school year, 12 at primary level and 4 at post-primary level. The vast majority of these are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6.

Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places nationwide this includes five new special schools one of which will be in county Tipperary.

The NCSE have recruited additional special education needs organisers (SENOs), advisors and team managers. A total of 120 SENOs now operate nationwide, three of these are solely operating in County Tipperary. SENOs play an important role in ensuring there is adequate special educational provision within local areas and are currently visiting schools nationwide to conduct planning meetings. These visits will be key in terms of forward planning for the 2025/26 school year.