Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee, I welcome from Department of Education Ms Martina Mannion, assistant secretary with responsibility for the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, special education, social inclusion and early years education policy; Mr. Eddie Ward, principal officer, special education section; Mr. Brendan Doody, assistant chief inspector in the inspectorate division; and Mr. Eamon Murtagh, director of the planning and building unit. I also welcome Ms Mary McGrath, head of operations, National Council for Special Education, NCSE; and Ms Anne Tansey, director, NEPS. The officials are here to brief the committee on the provision of special educational needs, specifically funding and the allocation of resources, the roll-out of the school inclusion model and the role of special needs assistants, SNAs, the provision of autism services, State recognition of a broader range of intellectual disabilities and the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, EPSEN, Act 2004.

The format of the meeting is that I will invite Ms Mannion to make an opening statement, which will be followed by questions from the committee. Each member has a six-minute slot, which gives him or her an opportunity to question the witness and for the witness to respond. I will keep an eye on the clock and when the six minutes has concluded, I will interrupt to ensure the meeting runs smoothly. As the witnesses are probably aware, the committee will publish the opening statements on its website following the meeting.

Before we begin, I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses of the Oireachtas or an official either by name or in such in way to make him or her identifiable. As officials are giving evidence remotely, from a place outside of the parliamentary precincts of Leinster House, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness physically present does. They have already been advised of that and whether it is appropriate to take legal advice on the matter. As we have started the meeting, it is a bit late now if they have not. They are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks by the Chair. It is imperative that they comply with all such directions.

I now ask Ms Mannion to make her opening statement.