Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the joint committee, I welcome from the special education section of the Department of Education and Skills Mr. Dalton Tattan, assistant secretary, and Mr. Jim Mulkerrins, principal officer. I also welcome from the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, Ms Teresa Griffin, chief executive officer, and Ms Mary Byrne, head of special education. The delegates will brief the committee on the proposed new model for allocating teaching resources for children with special educational needs and provide an update on the pilot scheme of the new allocation model in a number of schools in 2015-16 and the recently published policy advice from the National Council for Special Education on supporting children with autism spectrum disorder in schools.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Submissions and opening statements submitted to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Tatton and Ms Griffin to make their opening statements, after which members may ask questions.