Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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461. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when she will ensure that there are ASD units in primary schools in Clonmel, the largest town in county Tipperary. [9589/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is very cognisant of special education needs (SEN) accommodation requirements across the country including the Clonmel school planning area. My Department generally includes a SEN Base in all new schools, as well as replacement school buildings and extensions. My Department also funds the provision of additional accommodation, or the reconfiguration of existing accommodation, where a new special class is sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

The NCSE has a statutory function to plan and co-ordinate the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs, in consultation with the relevant education partners and the Health Service Executive. This includes the establishment of special class and special school placements in various geographical areas where there is an identified need.

In deciding where to establish a special class in an area, the NCSE takes account of the current and projected demand and the available school accommodation both current and planned. The Council ensures that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all children who have been identified as needing special class placements. When the NCSE sanction a special class in a school, the school can apply to my Department for capital funding to accommodate the class under the Additional School Accommodation scheme.

My Department has no current applications on hand for SEN class accommodation from the school planning area in question. There are currently 6 special educational needs (SEN) classes in the Clonmel school planning area.