Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to meet tomorrow with the provision of Special Needs Education among the topics for discussion

Specifically, the funding and the allocation of resources, the roll out of the School Inclusion Model and the role of Special Needs Assistants will be discussed with witnesses from the following organisations.

• The Department of Education
• The National Council for Special Education
• The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS)

Furthermore, the Committee will examine the provision of Autism Services; state recognition of a broader range of intellectual disabilities and implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004.

Tomorrow’s meeting will be streamed live on Oireachtas TV and begins at 12.30pm in Committee Room 3.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, Committee Chairperson, Paul Kehoe TD, said: “Everyone in the broader Educational sector and wider society is well aware that those who face Educational Disadvantage have found that the Impact of COVID-19 on Primary and Secondary Education and young people and their families has been very significant. Special Needs Education has been a major concern throughout the pandemic. It was also evident in our report on the Impact of COVID-19 on Education.

Chair Kehoe added:  “Tuesday’s meeting with the relevant officials will occur eight days before we convene a roundtable discussion on the provision of Special Needs Education with expert representations from the sectors of Child Welfare, NGO and Inclusion. Scrutiny of vital Special Needs Education services is a key priority for the committee.

For more information about the work of the Joint Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science see the Committee webpage