Vol. 571 No. 3
28 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Education and Science the consultations which have taken place with the Department of Health and Children regarding the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill 2003; and if representations from his Department were responsible for no reference being made to educational needs for persons with a disability aged 18 and over. [21550/03]
Prior to and during the drafting of the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill, there have been ongoing consultations with the Department of Health and Children regarding the proposed legislative provisions. These consultations will continue during the Bill's passage through the Houses.
The Supreme Court has ruled that the State's constitutional obligation to provide for free primary education applies to children and ceases at the age of 18. The Bill's aim is to implement this constitutional obligation by guaranteeing the rights of children with disabilities to education, enforceable through a statutory framework. This framework will provide for a range of services which must be provided, including assessments, individual education plans and support services and provides for a process of mediation and appeals where needs are not met. It is for this reason that the Bill focuses primarily on children with special educational needs.
The Bill recognises the fact that there are issues relevant to the education of a person as an adult which must be addressed when the person is still a child and places obligations on the new National Council for Special Education in respect of this. In addition, the Disabilities Bill which is to be published by my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, will provided for a wide range of services for people with disabilities, including education services.
