Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 November 2024
170. Deputy Colm Brophy asked the Minister for Education 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]
View answerThere 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.
|
School |
County |
Year Established |
|
Danú Community Special School |
Dublin |
2019 |
|
Our Lady of Hope School |
Dublin |
2021 |
|
Carrigaline Community Special School |
Cork |
2021 |
|
Libermann Spiritan School |
Dublin |
2022 |
|
Rochestown Community Special School |
Cork |
2023 |
|
An Cósan Community Special School |
Dublin |
2023 |
|
East Cork Community Special School |
Cork |
2023 |
|
Craddockstown School |
Kildare |
2024 |
|
Limerick Community College |
Limerick |
2024 |
|
Gorey Hill School |
Wexford |
2024 |
|
Cara Community Special School |
Meath |
2024 |
As announced last month by myself and Minister Foley, there are five new special school planned for the 2025/26 school year. These schools will be located in counties Cork, Dublin (2), Monaghan and Tipperary. The exact location, size of the schools and other details are currently being worked through.
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.
