I wish to advise the Deputy that I welcome the publication of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) policy advice on the Education of Students with Severe Emotional Disturbance or Behavioural Disorders. The report makes recommendations as to how education can in the future best be provided for such children, while also ensuring minimal disruption for other pupils.
My Department will consider the recommendations of this report and will prepare a plan for the appropriate implementation of these recommendations, including the recommendation referred to by the Deputy, in the context of available resources. In the interim, schools will continue to be supported through the provision of additional resource teaching and special needs assistant support.
My Department also published earlier this year new Guidelines for Schools on Supporting Students with Behavioural, Emotional, and Social difficulties, which are available on my Departments website at www.education.ie. In addition, schools may also seek advice from the National Educational Psychological Service, their Special Educational Needs Organiser, or from the National Behavioural Support Service, on how children with behavioural needs can best be supported in schools.
