Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Senator Moran is correct. We have made some progress in having access for all schools but the amount of access is the issue.

I am sure the Senator knows that the National Council for Special Education has proposed reforms in the area of supporting children with special learning needs in schools. Since we did not have all the data, we have not been able to introduce the reforms this year. We are awaiting data, particularly on complex needs, from the HSE but have not yet got them. However, the intention is to introduce the new model of allocation in the near future. We are establishing a pilot scheme this year, in which I believe 48 schools will be participating, to determine how the new model will work. The intention is that when young children enter school, we will have got information from early childhood services, etc., informing us of their needs. A problem at present is that schools, in order to provide for the needs of a child coming in, must have assessments carried out. In many cases, they cannot provide for a child's needs immediately. The new model is designed to address that issue. As I said, there is to be a pilot scheme in the coming year. The new model will be introduced after that.