I am aware some second level schools do not appear to be doing as much as they could to ensure students with special needs are as welcome in those schools as students without special needs. The Education Act 1998 requires all schools to have in place an admissions policy, detailing admission to and participation by students with disabilities or who have other special educational needs. The Act also requires schools to ensure that as regards that policy the principles of equality and the right of parents to send their children to a school of the parents choice are respected.
My Department provides a range of supports to all schools to enable them to welcome students with special educational needs. My Department allocates additional teacher support and special needs assistant support to second level schools and VECs to cater for students with special educational needs. The nature and level of support provided in each case is based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual student. However, this requires a willingness on the part of schools to be proactive in this area and also a willingness on the part of parents to more actively assert their rights in terms of their choice of school.
The level of resources being made available to support students with special educational needs in the second level system has grown significantly in recent years. In the current school year, my Department has allocated approximately 1,653 whole-time equivalent teachers and 1,102 special needs assistants to second level schools to cater for pupils with special educational needs. This represents an increase of approximately 264 teaching posts and 470 special needs assistant posts on the previous school year. Under section 29 of the Education Act 1998, parents of a student who has been refused enrolment in a school may appeal that decision to the Secretary General of my Department. Such appeals are dealt with within 30 days of their receipt and where an appeal is upheld the Secretary General is empowered to direct the school to enrol the student. With effect from 1 January 2005, the National Council for Special Education took over key functions from my Department in regard to special educational provision. I am confident the advent of the NCSE will prove of major benefit in ensuring all children with special educational needs receive the support they require, when and where they require it.