Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and the Minister of State, and I thank them for coming before us this morning. I apologise for being late as I was at another committee meeting.

To follow up on the work of the committee in relation to leaving certificate reform, some members disagreed and other members agreed on recent decisions but all of that being said I believe that we uniformly agree that leaving certificate reform is entirely necessary in whatever shape or form that takes. We need to start that conversation soon. I am very pleased to hear from the Minister, Deputy Foley, that the process shall begin shortly and as soon as possible. This is to be welcomed.

I wish to follow up on a few themes that the Chairman has already started. I echo the compliments that have been paid to the Minister, Deputy Foley, for the comprehensive work the Department and she have done in relation to a school in Swords. Last week during Dáil questions, the Chairman touched upon it also, which is the fulfilment of and renewal of the capital plan, and the impacts this will have on communities, especially growing communities. There are acute pressures, as I am sure the Minister will understand, in my constituency which is one of the fastest growing in the country. On that basis, I recall that in 2008 a total of 80 children showed up to school with their bags, books and uniforms, but there were no school places. Thankfully, the Department was able to resolve that issue fairly quickly, but it took six weeks for temporary accommodation to be delivered.

I do not believe that any of us wants to go back to that scenario.

The expanded brief of the Department in terms of liaising with other bodies such as local authorities and the Department of Social Protection, among others, is essential if we are to keep on top of the demands. There are acute pressures throughout the country but I can speak only for my constituency, particularly Malahide, Portmarnock, Swords and Balbriggan. In other communities, steps are being taken to ensure there is capacity available. The renewed capital plan, which sets out the ambition of the Minister for Education and her Department, is very important, as is the opportunity for the committee to go through it. Will the Minister provide further information on the advancement of the next capital programme?

The other issues I wish to raise relate to the brief of the Minister of State, Deputy Josepha Madigan, in particular the review of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, which I welcome. The committee has discussed the review a number of times. It is incredibly important that we complete that work. As far as I am concerned, the biggest issue we have all had in this area over the years has been that parts of the EPSEN Act were never commenced. Is the Minister proposing to engage with the NGOs and various groups that are key to the delivery of services for children with different additional educational needs?

On the recruitment of further special needs assistants, we have an ongoing commitment to increase the number of SNAs year on year. All Members of the House welcome that position because it is entirely necessary. Will that commitment continue? Will there be a review within the Department of the SNA allocation model given that it is two years old now to ensure it is operating as desired and designed? Perhaps the Minister will comment on that.