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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004

Thursday, 28 October 2004

Questions (371, 372)

Paudge Connolly

Question:

371 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Science the course which is open to parents of children with disabilities and chronic health problems to seek appropriate educational provision for their children without having to resort to litigation against the State; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26721/04]

View answer

Written answers

Children who have been assessed as having special educational needs have access to a range of special support services. The services range from special schools dedicated to particular disability groups, through special classes/units attached to ordinary schools, to placement on an integrated basis in ordinary schools with special back-up supports.

The nature and level of the special educational response provided is largely based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual child. The National Educational Psychological Service, which was established in 1999, employs qualified educational psychologists to provide the assessment service.

My Department's policy is to ensure the maximum possible integration of children with special needs into ordinary mainstream schools. Many children with special needs are capable of attending mainstream schools on a fully integrated basis with the support, where necessary, of special resource teachers and/or special needs assistants.

Children with more severe disabilities are catered for in special schools which are dedicated to particular disability groups. There are 108 special schools in the country at present. These schools cater for children from four to 18 years of age and each school enjoys a significantly reduced pupil teacher ratio and other staffing supports. For example, each class catering for a maximum of six children with autism or children with severe/profound general learning disability will have a staffing of at least one teacher and two special needs assistants. Additional special needs assistant support is provided if deemed necessary. Special schools also receive increased rates of capitation funding.

Where placement in a special school is not considered necessary, children with special needs can attend special classes attached to ordinary mainstream schools. Each special class is dedicated to a particular disability group. All special classes enjoy the same increased levels of staffing and funding as are made available to the special schools. Children attending special classes attached to ordinary schools may, where appropriate, be integrated into ordinary classes for periods of the school day and, in that way, benefit from being able to socialise with their non-disabled peers. A total of approximately 654 special classes are in place in the primary system at present. While children are awaiting a suitable educational placement, my Department may sanction home tuition as an interim measure if appropriate.

Since 1998, the following dedicated resources have been deployed to support children with special needs in the primary system: more than 2,600 resource teachers, up from 104 in 1998; more than 1,500 learning support teachers, up from 1,302 in 1998; more than 1,000 teachers in special schools; more than 600 teachers in special classes; more than 5,000 special needs assistants, up from 300 in 1998; more than €30 million on school transport for special needs pupils; more than €3 million towards specialised equipment and materials; up from €0.8million in 1998.

To appreciate the scale of improvement in the provision of resources to primary schools for special needs, it is worth reflecting on the fact that, at approximately 10,700, the number of adults providing services to children with special educational needs in primary schools today equates to more than half of the 21,100 primary teaching force in 1998.

Section 29 of the Education Act 1998 provides parents with an appeal process where a board of management of a school or a person acting on behalf of the board refuses to enrol a student. An appeal will generally not be admitted unless it is made within 42 calendar days from the date the decision of the board of management was notified to the parent or student concerned. However, a longer period for making appeals may be allowed as an exception where it is accepted that circumstances did not permit the making of an appeal within the 42 day limit.

Where an appeal under section 29 is upheld, the Secretary General of my Department may direct a school to enrol a pupil. The National Educational Welfare Board, NEWB, can assist parents who are experiencing difficulty in securing a school place for their child. The welfare board has indicated that it will treat children for whom an appeal under section 29 has been unsuccessful as priority cases in offering such assistance.

The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 sets out the rights and entitlements of children with special needs to an appropriate education service and providing the necessary framework for effective service delivery. In addition, the national council for special education, which will have a local area presence, will play a key role in the development and delivery of services for persons with special needs. It will have a research and advisory role and will establish expert groups to address particular areas of special needs provision. It will also establish a consultative forum to facilitate inputs from the education partners and other interested parties.

Significant progress has been made in the establishment of the national council and 70 special education needs organisers, SENOs, have recently been recruited. The SENOs will be a focal point of contact for schools and parents as well as processing individual applications for resources for special educational needs. It is anticipated that the council and the SENOs will become operational shortly.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

372 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science if the provision of a home tutor will be sanctioned for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [26731/04]

View answer

My Department received the communication referred to by the Deputy. My officials have issued a formal application form to the person in question. When this has been completed and returned to my Department, further consideration will be given to the matter and a decision conveyed to the family.

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