Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
92. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the working group established by the National Council for Special Education on its proposal to develop a new model for the allocation of teaching supports for children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50480/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June, the Minister decided to go to the Cabinet to seek an additional 500 resource teaching posts to maintain this year the number of hours that children had last year.
That was because there was an increased demand for resource teachers. At the time, the Minister established a working group under the chairmanship of Mr. Eamon Stack. I am seeking an update on that working group.
The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has established 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 profiled educational needs of schools.
Mr. Eamon Stack, the NCSE chairperson and former much respected chief inspector in the Department, has been appointed to chair this working group. I received an oral briefing from the chairperson on the progress of the work of this group to date on 2 October 2013. The group expects to complete its work by the end of spring next year.
The NCSE consulted widely with interested parties in developing its policy advice and I understand that the working group has also consulted a range of interested parties, including parents and representative groups, as its work has progressed. I look forward to a considered debate on this matter when the proposals are finalised.
I am somewhat concerned because we were under the impression, although I do not know where that impression came from, that the working group would report back as quickly as possible. Everyone in the House thought the group would come back with recommendations. We have subsequently found out that is not the case and that it will report in early spring 2014.
In response to a parliamentary question tabled by Deputy Kyne, the Minister said it would probably take another 12 months for it to be implemented. I am concerned because when the Minister announced the 500 additional resource teaching posts last year he said it was a one-off and that there would be budgetary implications as a result.
The Minister has also stated that the current model is not sustainable, is flawed and needs to be changed. We know the current model is unsustainable and flawed, as well as being weighted more in favour of schools that can afford to get tests done privately, so there is an urgent need to have the recommendations implemented as quickly as possible. At this stage, however, we are probably looking at the 2015 academic year.
When I made the decision to reverse what previously had been Government policy and to maintain the status quo rather than reduce it back in June, it was a move that was welcomed by all concerned. On foot of that decision, I knew I would have to find the resources for that from elsewhere within my budget at that time. We were able to do that successfully without diminishing the provision of services elsewhere.
I could have given the impression that I was going to get an earlier report. I got a work-in-progress report but I was never under the impression that they would come up with an alternative model by the end of this calendar year. If I conveyed that impression to the Deputy, then I apologise. I was certainly briefed by the chief executive and others that it would take at least until the spring of 2014. Mr. Eamon Stack told me that he had made good progress with all of the interested parties and groups involved. From his own constituency work and as his party's spokesperson on education, the Deputy will be aware of the variety of concerns. The allocation model we have is over ten or 15 years old. A lot of research has been undertaken both here and abroad in that time. On the basis of what we now know collectively, including such research and the report that was sent to me, the NCSE is considering whether there is a better and more effective way of allocating resources to children with special educational needs. Based on the progress made to date, I am told that they will have a substantive report in spring 2014 but I cannot be any more precise than that.
I thank the Minister for his comments. I agree completely that the current model is flawed and needs to be re-examined. That is why we welcomed the establishment of the working group under Mr. Eamon Stack. We await its recommendations in due course. Now that we are looking at early spring 2014 - probably a further 12 months for it to be implemented, whatever the recommendations are - we cannot have another situation where students are facing cuts in hours, as they were in May and June this year. It is all well and good to say that a working group has been established, will report in spring 2014 and that its recommendations will be implemented, but in the meantime students should not have to suffer as a result of that delay.
Until such time as the report has been published and a new model has been implemented, the commitment given this year regarding the maintenance of hours at current levels and the additional 500 posts, which have been welcomed, must be honoured.
I share the Deputy's view. It is my intention to maintain the status quo until such time as there is roll-out of the recommendations on the new model, assuming that we accept them. Following discussion of these recommendations in this Chamber the changes will be made. I do not propose to change the status quo until such time as we are in a position to implement a replacement.
