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 NCSE has advised my department that the school referred to by the Deputy have a number of special classes already and the school have recently expressed an interest in opening an additional class.
The NCSE actively encourages expressions of interest from schools to open special classes, and I appreciate and commend the efforts taken by boards of management in expressing their interest.
When assessing the needs in the local area, the NCSE identify schools in the neighbouring vicinity with available special class vacancies and assess their capability with consideration to demographical and statistical data. The NCSE advise that there is some capacity available locally in other primary schools.
However, the NCSE will keep the matter under review, particularly with regard to the level of need for additional special class places. As part of this review, my department understands that the NCSE will visit the school in the coming days.
Over 360 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 13 are in Wexford, 11 at primary level and 2 at post primary. This brings the overall number of special classes in County Wexford to 114. The NCSE expect to confirm some additional classes shortly to ensure that a sufficient level of provision is available. The NCSE is confident that through the provision of these new classes and some vacancies in existing classes there is sufficient places to meet the needs of children known to them for September 2024.
I have asked the NCSE to ensure classes are established as a matter of urgency and to keep all families seeking class places updated on an ongoing basis to ensure their children can access the provision to which they are entitled.
