Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 May 2024
69. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Education the estimated cost of each additional place for a child with special educational needs in a special school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24133/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy department secured funding of €2.7 billion for special education expenditure in Budget 2024 which will provide essential supports to children with special educational needs and allow for the opening of up to 400 new special classes in mainstream schools and 300 additional special school places.
An indicative estimate of the cost of repurposing an existing vacant building to establish a new special school for 24 pupils is approximately €3.75 million.
The department’s approach is to establish new special schools on campus sites so accommodation options may not be readily available. A new permanent building for a 120 student special school can cost of the order of €30 million. If being delivered on a campus there would most likely be additional costs involved to upgrade/extend the existing mainstream school as the quid pro quo for accessing the site.
Each new special school requires additional funding for staffing and capitation. Professional development and professional supports for the additional special school staff are also required. Capital funding is also required to provide the necessary school accommodation and equipment supports for the additional special schools. Additional funding will also need to be considered on an individual basis for students who are eligible for school transport, assistive technology and other such supports.
The department considers it reasonable to plan on the basis that each classroom in each special school is staffed with one teacher and three special needs assistants (SNAs). However, additional staffing resources may be required depending on the level of need of the individual students.
In addition to the individual classroom staffing allocation, each new special school will require a principal and deputy principal post.
The overall estimated cost of providing additional 100 special school places in 4 new schools, each catering for 24 pupils is over €18 million for the first year of operation.
This cost is comprised of €15 million in capital costs to repurpose existing vacant buildings to provide 4 new special schools of 24 pupils at a cost of €3.75 million each, and €3.1 million staffing costs providing for a principal, deputy principal, 4 teachers and 12 SNAs in each new school. The estimated capital cost is even greater if a new permanent building is to be provided for a new special school rather than repurposed existing vacant building.
