Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

169. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number and location of special classes from 2011 to 2024; the number proposed; the delivery date of each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45876/24]

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.

The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs. They have advised that in 2011 there were approximately 600 special classes nationwide. This figure has been substantially built on in recent years. There are now 3,337 special classes distributed in every county. Almost 1,700 of these new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE in the last 5 years. The attach document provides a breakdown of where these classes are located.

Over 400 of these classes have been sanctioned for this school year, 289 at primary level and 120 at post primary. Budget 2025 provides funding for another 400 special classes and 300 special school places next year. It is estimated that a similar level of provision will be needed each year for the next 3 years.

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. Just last month my department issued a circular to all schools setting out new measures to support the forward planning of special education provision. Included in this circular was a reminder of the need for post primary schools to continue planning for this level of provision.

The NCSE have recruited additional special education needs organisers (SENOs), advisors and team managers. A total of 120 SENOs now operate nationwide. 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.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number and location of special schools from 2011 to 2024; the number proposed; the delivery date of each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45877/24]

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

There are currently 124 special schools supported by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in operation throughout the country. The attached list provides the locations of these special schools. 113 of these were in operation prior to 2011.

The below table provides a list of the new special schools which have been established in recent years.

These schools will provide for children and young people with complex special education needs up to 18 years of age. They are being sanctioned as early as possible as part of advanced forward planning for the next school year to ensure that appropriate placements are available where needed to meet the needs of students with special educational needs.

The announcement of these schools is a significant step forward. Part of the forward planning process looks at how far students are travelling to access an education appropriate to their needs. This is an important factor which has been incorporated into the decision making process. In addition, information held on the department's Geographical Information System (GIS), particularly in relation to student demographics and other statistical data also forms part of the process. NCSE knowledge of the need for special school places at local level is a key element also.

The early announcement of the new schools is an important milestone because it allows more time for the planning of school admissions, recruitment of staff, staff training and completion of necessary building works.

It is envisaged that existing buildings will be repurposed to facilitate the opening of the new special schools for the 2025/26 school year. Further details such as the precise location of the new schools in each county will be confirmed in due course as part of the finalisation of arrangements for the opening of the new special schools.

Dedicated working groups will be established to support the establishment of each of the new special schools.