The Deputy will be aware that the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004 provides for the establishment of the Special Education Appeals Board (SEAB), to hear and determine appeals under the Act. Board members are currently working to ensure that appropriate structures and processes will be in place once the relevant sections of the Act, which would allow appeals to be undertaken, are commenced.
Pending full implementation of the Act, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), and following discussions with Management Bodies, is preparing to introduce a structured appeals process whereby schools and parents, where appropriate, may seek to appeal the decision of a Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) in relation to the allocation of resources. This scheme is currently being piloted in a number of schools.
In the meantime, the NCSE will undertake to review a decision taken by a SENO on foot of a request from a school or parents/guardians, when accompanied by relevant additional information such as professional reports which may not have been to hand at the time of the decision.
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.