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Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 March 2022

Thursday, 10 March 2022

Ceisteanna (126)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

126. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the fact there are no special educational needs organisers covering south County Tipperary which is greatly restricting the development, delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with special educational needs, including the establishment of special class and special school placements in south County Tipperary; when the National Council for Special Education will have a dedicated special educational needs organiser for the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13157/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for fulfilling the functions of the NCSE Council, through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), Advisors and Visiting Teachers. The identification, delivery and coordination of education services to students, schools and families, are organised and managed through ten teams across five regions.

SENOs are selected on the basis of their knowledge and experience in providing services to children with disabilities, and also their backgrounds, which include; teaching, nursing, psychology and management. Each SENO has responsibility for specific schools, primary, post primary and special, within their area, however, the SENOs operate within a mutually supportive network, sharing their expertise, experience and knowledge, with each other, for the benefit of the child.

The SENO provides a service to parents, the school and the children by determining the best resources available for the child, helping parents to source services provided by the schools and health services, arranging for psychological assessments, where required, and planning the continuum of support for the child, ranging from SNA assistance, mainstream class settings, to special classes and special schools.

SENOs are permanent employees of the NCSE and have been recruited directly through the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to date. PAS ran a SENO recruitment competition in 2021, and interviews are currently taking place with a view to filling outstanding vacancies as soon as possible.

Furthermore, the NCSE has been granted a recruitment licence which will allow them to recruit SENOs directly in future. This will help to accelerate the recruitment process going forward.

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