Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 May 2016
152. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost per annum of ensuring that all teachers have a minimum of two days' continuous professional development on the provision of support for children with special educational needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12199/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Special Education Support Service (SESS) co-ordinates, develops and delivers a range of professional development initiatives and support structures for school personnel working with students with special educational needs in a variety of educational settings. These settings include mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special schools and special classes.
The continuing professional development (CPD) provided by SESS covers a range of specialties, including inter alia:
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)
- Hearing Impairment
- Visual Impairment
- Mental Health
- Individual Education Planning
- Dyslexia
- Challenging Behaviour
- Specialist training for teachers in Autism Units attached to schools
This CPD support is made available to all schools - both whole-school and to individual teachers through a variety of models such as school visits, SESS designed courses and seminars, on-line programmes, provision of resources, telephone and e-mail support, access to on-line library etc.
Over 16,000 teachers accessed CPD through SESS in 2015.
In addition to this my Department also funds Post-Graduate Programmes for approximately 400 teachers involved in Learning Support and special education annually. The combined programme cost of this support in 2015 was €2,520,893, exclusive of personnel and substitution costs.
Given the broad and varied range of CPD provided, ranging from school visits to individual teacher participation at seminars and year long post graduate programmes, an average CPD cost is difficult to estimate without defining specific course parameters and content.
