Officials from the special education section of my Department meet their counterparts in the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive, HSE, and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, on a regular and ongoing basis to discuss issues of mutual concern. However, no recent meeting involving the HSE, south east area, has taken place regarding the matters to which the Deputy refers and there has been no request for a meeting to discuss such matters with the special education section. If it is the case, however, that the HSE, south east area, has concerns of the nature described by the Deputy, it should write directly to my Department outlining the exact nature of those concerns. Once such information is received I will ensure that it receives attention from the appropriate areas of my Department.
It may be the case that the matters would fall to be dealt with by the NCSE which is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports and for identifying appropriate educational settings for children with special educational needs. If this is the case, I will ensure that any information sent to my Department is referred for appropriate action to the NCSE.
