Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2024
52. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the number of children in Laois who have been assessed as requiring a place in an ASD unit at primary school level; where new classes will be provided in September in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23737/24]
View answer59. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Education the number of pupils in Laois who have been assessed as requiring a place in an ASD unit at secondary school level; where new classes will be provided in September in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23738/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 59 together.
I understand that this is an anxious time for parents who are seeking a school place for their child for September and I would like to assure the Deputy that this government is determined to alleviate the pressures faced by parents when seeking a special educational placement.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through their special educational needs organisers (SENOs) work closely with families regarding options for school placements and other special education supports. Parents seeking special class placements for their children are advised to contact the NCSE locally using the details on the NCSE's website.
My department and the NCSE work closely in relation to the forward planning of new special classes and additional special school places, work which is close to finalisation for the 2024/25 school year.
So far more than 320 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE nationwide for the 2024/25 school year, and of these 11 are in County Laois, 6 at primary level and 5 at post-primary level. This brings to 99 the number of special classes in the county. The NCSE continue to sanction some additional classes for the coming school year and is engaged in ongoing discussions with schools. As new classes are sanctioned, the NCSE will support families to make applications for places.
The attached document provides a breakdown of the 11 new classes in County Laois for the 2024/25 school year as of 21 May 2024.
My department and the NCSE are actively engaging with school patrons and management bodies to ensure additional special classes for the coming school year are provided in areas where they are needed.
I expect these remaining new special classes will be finalised in the coming weeks and that this additional provision – coupled with vacancies in existing special classes - will provide the additional capacity needed. The NCSE advise that there are significant numbers of vacant places in existing special classes also available throughout the country.
It is important to note that there are vacancies in existing special classes as children move from primary to post primary or leave our school system. These places are filled on an ongoing basis.
Furthermore, the NCSE is working with schools who may be available to open classes for September 2024 but whose capacity may not be required at this time. They will remain options for additional provision if required throughout the 2024/25 school year.
The enrolment process for school places takes place at local school level, with decisions on admission resting with individual schools. Therefore, the position for each child will continue to evolve as the enrolment processes - some of which are still underway for new classes - comes to a conclusion.
This government has heard the voice of the parents in regard to the anxiety faced when seeking placement in a special educational setting.
For that reason, this government has provided significant additional resources to the NCSE to allow for their expansion. We will have 120 local special educational needs organisers at a local level in September who are a pivotal point of contact for parents, guardians and schools. This increase in on-the-ground support coupled with enhanced capacity of other services within the NCSE will bolster the level of service and provide effective structures to relieve pressure on parents.
The NCSE are working tirelessly with the families known to them to access specialist places and this will continue until children are in the places they need to be to ensure they have an appropriate education.
