Department of Education's policy to include provision for an ASD unit or units in all new primary and secondary school building projects

​To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it is his department's policy to include provision for an ASD unit or units in all new primary and secondary school building projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
  
REPLY.


I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for organising and planning provision for children with special educational needs, including establishing special classes in mainstream primary and post primary schools.

It is general practice to include a Special Needs Unit in the accommodation brief for new primary and post schools, unless local circumstances indicate that it will not be required or where site conditions preclude construction.