Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2022
449. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Education if she will detail the initiatives that are in place to develop cross-departmental links between education, special education and disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51530/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:
The Cross-Sectoral Group on Disability Issues for Children and Young People (CSG) provides leadership and supports decision-making for key Government Departments and Agencies, which have a role in the delivery of disability services. Membership is made up of representatives from a number of Government Departments, including my Department. The CEO of the National Council for Special Education is also a member of this Group.
Separately, the National Education and Health Collaborative Forum supports education and health to work together cohesively, share key information and develop joint working, where required, to optimise outcomes for children and their families. Membership is comprised of representatives from the Health Service Executive (HSE), National Counsel for Special Education (NCSE) and the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS).
In addition to these two groups, in the last two years the Department of An Taoiseach has overseen a further cross Departmental and agency group looking specifically at the areas of 1) therapies and 2) school places for children with special educational needs.
This group has included senior officials from the Department of Health, Education, Children, Equality, Disability Integration and Youth as well as from the NCSE and HSE. Updates on progress in the area has been provided to relevant Ministers who attend Cabinet sub-Committee on these issues.
The NCSE is currently engaged in the Education and health working group which is a framework for collaborative engagement and better working between health and education professionals. The purpose of the group is to guide the establishment of Education and Health Forums at local level, including representatives of parents, health services and education partners, in order to facilitate networking, building relationships and to share information.
- To support the development of national joint Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines between Education and Health, as required.
- To provide guidance regarding the content of relevant training programmes in both sectors to ensure consistency, eliminate duplication and maximize use of available resources.
- To oversee the development of a national online directory of resources to include information and links on disabilities, health services, education, community supports and subsections for regional/local specific supports and services.
- To oversee implementation of the Guidance on Coordination of Key Transitions for Children and Young People with Complex Disabilities as a template for local education and health forums to develop their own pathways for the key stages of transitions.
- To ensure the voice of children and young people, and their parents is heard in all the above development works.
At local level forums are established to further this work and specifically with a view:
- To facilitate joint and collaborative practices at a local level to share information and facilitate the provision of services to children and their families.
- And to address issues of common concern to those in the education and health sectors engaged in supporting children with disabilities. Issues which affect one sector only will continue to be addressed by existing forums/management groups in each sector.
A Steering Group was established to advise, monitor and oversee the development, coordination and implementation of the trialing of a School Inclusion Model as approved by Government on 12 February 2019.
The Group is chaired by the Department of Education, and comprise high level representation from the Departments of Public Expenditure and Reform; Health; and Children and Youth Affairs.
The Group provide a forum for the lead actors with responsibility for delivering the actions underlying the model to agree it’s planning and delivery.
Other objectives of the strand are to develop protocols and relationships to work with external bodies, such as the HSE and NEPS, and with therapists not employed by NCSE who are providing support to children.
As part of the School Inclusion Model (SIM), the Steering Group established a nursing subgroup. The nursing supports subgroup were tasked with looking, in the context of improving access to nursing supports for children in mainstream schools and in special school settings. Members of the nursing group consist of personnel from Department of Education, Health Service Executive, Department of Health and NCSE.
