Written Answers. - Special Needs Education Services.
Mary Wallace
Question:
181
Miss M. Wallace
asked the
Minister for Education
whether the proposed Education Bill will include statutory provisions in respect of educational choice for children with disabilities; the structures, if any, she intends to put in place to realise any such statutory rights; and the consultations, if any, she has had with groups representing people with disabilities and their families on this and related points.
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Mary Wallace
Question:
182
Miss M. Wallace
asked the
Minister for Education
the name of each organisation representing people with disabilities and their families she has met with in relation to the proposals contained in the White Paper on Education; and the date of each such meeting.
[10085/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 182 together.
The Education Bill will provide, as one of its basic principles, that children with special needs are entitled to an education. The boards will be charged with a statutory obligation to promote equality of access to and participation in education. As part of this arrangement, the boards will be required to provide the necessary support services to schools, including the necessary technical aid and equipment.
It is also intended that education boards will be required to develop short-term and longer-term plans for their regions and that these plans will include a statement of objectives with respect to children with special needs.
The above developments will be supported by a structure which envisages a continuum of provision to allow special needs children access to a full range of special support services in their own areas. Services will range from special schools, through special classes, to full integration, if necessary on a supported basis. As part of this arrangement, a number of ordinary primary schools will be designated by the education boards as centres where students with particular disabilities may be educated. In addition, the existing special schools will fulfil an expanded role in dealing with a variety of disabilities and as regional resource centres.
The measures set out in the White Paper and those proposed under the Education Bill are the product of a comprehensive consultation process which involved many groups and individuals, including representatives of people with disabilities.
Many of the White Paper proposals concerning educational choice for children with disabilities were contained in the report of the Special Education Review Committee. This committee received 186 submissions from organisations and individuals representing people with disabilities, their families and people working with special needs children. I will arrange for my Department to forward to the Deputy a list of these organisations and individuals.
The National Education Convention which took place in Dublin Castle from 11 to 21 October 1993 brought together representatives from various organisations to engage in structured and sustained discussion on key issues of education policy in Ireland. The convention was a very significant element of the wide-ranging consultative process on the Green Paper,Education For A Changing World. In my closing address to the Covention, I stated that I would rely on its outcomes when determining the shape of the White Paper and the Education Act.
A full list of groups who participated in the National Education Convention follows.
In addition to the wide-ranging consultations referred to above, I also met the following groups:
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15 March 1995
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National Association for the Mentally Handicapped of Ireland
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5 April 1995
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National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education
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List of participants in The National Education Convention
1. National Parents Council — Primary.
2. Catholic Primary Schools Managers' Association.
3. Church of Ireland Board of Education.
4. Educate Together.
5. Gaelscoileanna.
6. Catholic Episcopal Commission for Education.
7. AMCSS/JMB.
8. Secondary Education Committee.
9. Conference of Major Religious Superiors.
10. Irish Vocational Education Association.
11. Association of Chief Executive Officers of vocational education committees.
12. Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools.
13. Irish National Teachers' Organisation.
14. Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland.
15. Teachers' Union of Ireland.
16. Association of Principals and Vice-Principals of Voluntary Secondary Schools.
17. Association of Principals of Vocational Schools and Community Colleges.
18. Association of Principals and Vice-Principals of Community and Comprehensive Schools.
19. National Parents Council — Post-Primary.
20. Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
21. Irish Employers and Business Confederation.
22. Irish Farmers' Association/Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers' Association.
23. Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed.
24. National Youth Council.
25. Bord na Gaeilge.
26. Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge.
27. The Arts Council.
28. Council for the Status of Women.
29. Campaign to separate Church and State.
30. Forum of People with Disabilities.
31. The Special Education Review Committee.
32. The National Association of Adult Education (AONTAS).
33. National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
34. National Council for Vocational Awards.
35. FÁS.
36. Higher Education Authority.
37. National Council for Education Awards.
38. Committee of Heads of Irish Universities.
39. Council of Higher Education Directors.
40. Presidents of Colleges of Education.
41. Irish Federation of University Teachers.
42. Union of Students of Ireland.
43. The Department of Education.
