Autism assessments and NCSE guidance
Deputy Bacik raised serious concern about children with autism and an NCSE instruction asking schools to carry out assessments of need in place of educational psychologists. The Taoiseach pointed to expanded special education funding and classes, and said he would seek clarity and return to the Deputy.
I will raise the plight of children with autism, who are still being failed by the State. Back in July, we in Labour put forward a motion on the need for better co-ordination and improved services for children with autism that got cross-party support and yet, over recent days, Deputy Ó Ríordáin and I have been hearing from school principals who are deeply concerned at a new instruction from the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, that they are to carry out assessments of need on their own pupils in the place of educational psychologists. This is a matter of real concern. There is a need for clarity on this.
Furthermore, I learned today that the Milne twins from north Dublin, whose plight I raised with the Taoiseach in May, have still not received an appropriate school place. Kyle and Ryan Milne are twin boys. The Taoiseach gave an apology with regard to their case in May and their plight was addressed on two different "Prime Time" programmes on RTÉ. Despite this, their mother, Gillian, has said that, even though we are now coming up to the Hallowe'en mid-term break, her kids are still at home and there is no school place ready for them. They will be 12 next March. It is simply not good enough.
Comment on this
There has been a very significant expansion of special needs education in both the primary and post-primary sector, the budget for which increased by a further 12%. Approximately €2.6 billion is now spent on special education. We have established additional posts including posts for new special needs assistants and teachers. Approximately 392 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2022-23 period. Those are the figures. I will seek clarity on the issue the Deputy raised with regard to the NCSE and I will talk to the Minister about it. Everything is designed to get people in situ as quickly as possible. We do not want children without school places and we want children to have access to services as quickly as possible. I can only surmise that the NCSE is asking whether we can get children into special classes and special units to get services provided but I will seek clarity in that regard.
In terms of the Milne twins-----
