Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 June 2024
77. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education the number of primary schools who agreed to open special classes in modular units for the school year starting September 2024; the number of these schools who had their request rejected by the Department; in tabular form by school name and county. [25651/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra79. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Education if her Department rejected the opening of a special class in a modular unit at a school (details supplied), citing that the area did not have the numbers for additional classes; how this decision was arrived at given the level of need which exists in the Swords area, and given that Fingal is the fastest growing area in Ireland. [25653/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 79 together.
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 department does not refuse accommodation for special classes at primary level, but rather works with schools to put the most appropriate accommodation solution in place to meet the requirement for special classes in an area, taking account of the timing and duration of the need. This may require modular accommodation, or in many instances, in support of inclusion and integration, the department will work with schools to reconfigure existing accommodation for special classes, and provide modular accommodation for the displaced rooms as necessary.
In some cases schools require just an interim solution pending the completion of a school building project and the department will work with schools to identify appropriate provision to meet such a short-term need. Where the NCSE has indicated to the department that a class is not required at a particular school for the 2024/25 school year, the department will, instead, work to ensure that an appropriate solution put in place to provide the special class accommodation for the year in which is needed.
School building projects currently in train, including modular accommodation projects, will provide over 6,000 additional and replacement places in special classes and the department will continue to work with the NCSE to ensure that accommodation requirements for special classes at primary schools across the country continue to be met.
In relation to the school referred to by the Deputy, the NCSE have advised my department that the school currently have one special class which was opened in November 2023. The NCSE has sanctioned a second special class and the school submitted an application for modular accommodation to my department's Planning and Building unit on 17 April 2024. This is currently being assessed.
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.
Over 360 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2024/25 school year. Of these, 48 are in Dublin, 32 are at primary level and 16 at post-primary, this brings the total number of special classes in the county to 582. The NCSE expect to confirm some additional classes over the coming weeks 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 all 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.
