Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2021
307. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of children with special educational needs that are currently on reduces timetable in Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34121/21]
View answerIt is the policy of my Department that all children, including children with special educational needs should attend school for the full school day.
Only in very limited circumstances, for example, where children are recovering from illness, and are required to be reintegrated to school, should reduced timetables be considered. In such circumstances, this should be part of a transition or reintegration intervention, based on the needs of individual students.
Where a reduced timetable is used, it should be applied proportionately, should have signed parental/guardian consent and should last only as long as is necessary to facilitate a return to school on a full-time basis.
The Department has consulted with education stakeholders to consider the timing of the introduction of guidelines on reduced timetables in the context of Covid 19 and the current operating environment for schools. There were concerns about issuing guidelines in the current Covid context where the safe and sustainable reopening of schools remains the overriding priority for all stakeholders.
It is my Department’s intention to issue Guidelines to schools on the use of reduced timetables for the next school year
It is intended that the guidelines will include measures by which schools will be required to report on the use of reduced timetables. Until such time as this reporting mechanism is in place, data is not available as to the number of pupils who are currently on reduced timetables.
