Duncan Smith
Ceist:328. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Education to outline a timeline for the delivery of autism units in primary schools in Skerries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21659/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 May 2024
Ceisteanna (328)
Freagraí scríofa
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.
My department advise that there are currently two building projects underway in Skerries. one in Skerries Educate Together National School and one in Scoil Réalt na Mara. I am happy to provide an update on these projects.
Skerries Educate Together National School : This school's project has been approved to proceed to Stage 3 tender stage. Department officials have been in contact with Louth Meath ETB to advise them accordingly and the official letter of approval will issue shortly. It is now within the remit of Louth Meath ETB (LMETB) and the school authority to progress.
Scoil Réalt na Mara: This school was approved a project to provide a special education reconfiguration project. This project is now completed and my department is awaiting the necessary documentation from the school authority to complete the drawdown on this project. Upon receipt of this documentation the project will be finalised.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs. My department engage 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 2024/25 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.
As a result of this forward planning almost 300 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE nationwide for the 2024/25 school year, of these 30 are in County Dublin. The vast majority of these are autism classes and have a teacher/student ratio of 1:6. The NCSE continue to sanction classes for the 2024/25 school year and a list of the location of new classes will be published shortly.
Over the last number of years, my department and the NCSE have introduced a number of strategic initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places. These initiatives are bearing fruit with almost 1,300 new special classes sanctioned and seven new special schools established over the last four years.
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, 300 additional special school places and will increase the number of teaching and SNA posts.
An additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs will be added to deliver up to 2,700 new places for children with special educational needs. This will mean we will have over 41,500 qualified and committed people in our schools who are focused wholly and exclusively on supporting these children.
My department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements will be available for children for this school year and future years.