Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2003

Vol. 569 No. 3

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Brian O'Shea

Question:

279 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 229 of 18 June 2003, the discussions held with the Department of Health and Children, in regard to a fully co-ordinated system of supports for special needs children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17804/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

A number of meetings have taken place between senior officials in my Department and their counterparts in the Department of Health and Children in relation to the establishment of the National Council for Special Education and the drafting of the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill. Further discussions are proposed. I consider the establishment of the council and the publication of the Bill to be key developments in advancing the structural and legislative measures which are necessary to underpin the development and delivery of services for persons with special needs.

With regard to the Bill, my officials have completed the consultation process with the various interests groups. The Bill will take into account the views which emerged from these consultations. I intend to bring the legislation to Government shortly and anticipate its publication before the end of the month. My objective is to bring forward legislation which will identify the special educational needs of children with disabilities and which will provide for an education appropriate to their needs as early as possible in their lives; which will ensure that parents have a central role in their child's education; which will provide for the planning for the child's future special education needs as an adult; and which will ensure that the various agencies involved in providing for special education and related support services are required to act within specified time limits.

I also propose that the legislation will build on and strengthen the structures set out in the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2002, especially the National Council for Special Education and the Special Education Appeals Board. It will also be an objective for revised legislation that it will closely dovetail where necessary with legislation being prepared by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform relating to the broader issue of services for people with disabilities.

A key focus of my Department has been on advancing the fundamental structural measures which are necessary to underpin the development and delivery of services for persons with special needs. A key development on the structural front has been the Government's decision to approve the establishment of the National Council for Special Education.

The proposed draft order to establish a National Council for Special Education sets out three broad functions for the council: to carry out research and provide expert advice to the Minister on the educational needs of children with disabilities and the provision of related services, to provide for a range of services at local and national level in order that the educational needs of children with disabilities are identified and provided for, and to co-ordinate the provision of educational and related support services to children with disabilities in consultation with health boards, schools and other relevant bodies.

In practical terms, this will translate into the definition by the council, on foot of research that it conducts or commissions, of appropriate educational responses for categories of special need, along with assistance by the council in the delivery of educational services to individual children at ground level through its provision of information, co-ordination and facilitation services. The draft order proposes a measure of independence for the council in carrying out its research function as it provides that the council shall, as it considers appropriate, publish the findings of its research in such form and manner as it thinks fit.

Arrangements for the establishment of the council are now well advanced. A chief executive officer designate has been appointed and an order to establish the council will shortly be brought before the Oireachtas.