Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022
1030. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the number of children currently on reduced timetables who have been notified to her Department under the new guidelines; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30400/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra1031. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education the number of children with disabilities who are currently on reduced timetables who have been notified to her Department under the new guidelines, by each diagnostic category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30401/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1030 and 1031 together.
A commitment was made under the Programme for Government to ensure robust data collection on the use of reduced school days and to further ensure that they are only used in a manner that is limited, appropriate and absolutely necessary.
My Department issued guidelines to schools on reduced school days in September 2021 which came into effect from 1st January 2022. My Department is working closely with Tusla Education Support Service to ensure that all students are supported to the greatest extent possible to attend for the full school day.
Tusla Education Support Service are tasked with gathering data from schools in relation to the use of reduced school days. It is my intention to publish this data in the near future and details of this will be on my Department's website.
