Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
363. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Education and Skills the current status of the policy advice on special needs education that he received from the National Council for Special Education; if an implementation or consultative group has been established to consider this report; the membership of this group; the timeline for it to carry out its work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38066/13]
View answerThe Deputy is referring to the comprehensive policy advice which was recently published by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) on Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools, which is available at the website www.ncse.ie.
This report has recommended that under a new resource allocation model proposed by the NCSE in the report, children should be allocated additional resources in line with their level of need, rather than by disability category.
I have, as suggested by the Report, requested that the NCSE establish a Working Group to develop a proposal, for consideration, for a new model for the allocation of teaching supports for children with Special Educational Needs, based on the educational profile of a school.
Mr Eamonn Stack, who is the NCSE Chairperson and former Chief Inspector in my Department, has been appointed to chair this working group.
The full membership of the group is as follows: Eamon Stack (Chair) Chairperson, NCSE Áine Lynch CEO, National Parents CouncilMary Byrne (Sec) Head of Special Education, NCSE Katherine O'Leary Parent and Board Director, Inclusion Ireland.Don Mahon Assistant Chief Inspector, DES Anne English Principal, primary school Maureen Costello, Director, National Educational Psychological Service Antoinette Nic Gearailt Principal, post-primary schoolPeter Archer Director, Educational Research Centre, DrumcondraPat Kinsella NCSE Council memberBrian MacGiolla Phadraig Inspector, DES Eithne Fitzgerald Head of Policy and Research, NDA Council memberJames O'Grady NCSE Council memberMary McLoughlin Principal officer Department of Children and Youth AffairsThe group will brief me shortly on the progress of its work and will provide me with an update on a likely timeframe for the completion of its work in developing a proposal for a new allocation model for schools.
Officials at my Department, in conjunction with other Departments and agencies where relevant, are also carefully considering the other recommendations contained in this report.
