Joe Flaherty
Ceist:315. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Education if she will consider the development of a dedicated special education school for County Leitrim (details supplied). [19128/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 30 April 2024
Ceisteanna (315)
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.
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.
In 2024, the number of teaching and SNA posts in our schools will increase with an additional 744 teachers and 1,216 SNAs 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.
The NCSE has the responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs.
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.
My 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 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, two new special schools have been established for this current school year in Cork and Dublin, with further capacity being expanded in 11 other special schools.
Along with the two new special schools opening this school year, 390 new special classes – 254 at primary and 136 at post-primary level – have been sanctioned by the NCSE for opening this current school year.
The new special schools established over recent years have focused on providing additional places in our largest urban areas: Dublin and Cork. The department and NCSE have already begun planning in relation to further expanding special school capacity for the 2024/25 school year and beyond.
It is estimated that a further 300 new special school places may be required each year for the coming years. When looking to provide additional capacity the department’s preferred option is to increase provision in existing special schools if possible.
In 2021, a major extension and refurbishment project was completed in the school referred to by the Deputy. This project delivered nine classrooms with a range of ancillary accommodations. Where it is not possible to increase provision in a region, the department and NCSE will consider the need to establish a new special school.
Four new special schools will be established for the 2024/25 school year in Meath, Kildare, Wexford and Limerick. The schools will be under the patronage of the local Education and Training Boards.
In planning for increased special school places, the department and NCSE review all of the available data on the growing need for special school places across the country. This involves a detailed analysis of enrolment trends and the potential for existing special schools in a region to expand.
An important consideration when deciding to establish or expand provision in an existing special school is the distances that some students are travelling in order to access a special school placement.
My department and the NCSE are continually reviewing where additional capacity is required in existing special schools or in what regions a new special school may need to be established over the coming years.
I want to assure the Deputy that both my department and the NCSE will continue to monitor and review the need for further new special schools or the expansion of existing special schools to ensure that sufficient special education placements will be available for this coming school year and future years.