Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to be here today to provide an update to the committee on education and supports for Ukrainian students, particularly with regard to special educational needs. My Department is committed to providing every support possible to all those fleeing war in Ukraine and seeking protection in Ireland including those with special needs. The Minister, Deputy Foley, has outlined the important work of the regional education and language teams, REALT. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is a critical member of each of these regional teams in supporting families to access the educational supports they need. NCSE staff are spending time with these families as they adjust to new school placements across the country. While the most appropriate place for children is in the most inclusive environment in a mainstream setting, where there are known complex needs, the NCSE will work with families to get the right setting for these children. The NCSE special education needs organisers, SENOs, are linking with other relevant State agencies, including the education welfare services and the HSE. In addition, officials in my Department are working closely with the HSE disability services so that there is a joined up response and flow of information.

One of the key supports we can offer to children arriving from other countries is English language supports. These supports are available generally in schools which have a large number of children for whom English or Irish is not their first language. It has been of particular importance recently to support the large number of children from Ukraine enrolled in our schools. I am pleased to say an allocation of English language support hours is provided to schools which have recently enrolled Ukrainian pupils.

The Minister, Deputy Foley, and I were delighted to announce this year’s summer programme. It is anticipated that it will support up to 48,000 children with special educational needs and children at most risk of educational disadvantage, which is a huge priority for this Government. For the 2022 programme, the inclusion programme at primary and post-primary levels offers an opportunity for schools to address the needs of migrant students, such as addressing English language skills and integration. This includes students who have recently arrived in Ireland from Ukraine. This is a key part of the offering and I can confirm that it includes English as an additional language support.

Finally, it is also important to mention that I recently visited the Muslim school in Clonskeagh at the invitation of the school principal, John McDonnell, and the CEO of the Islamic Cultural Centre for Ireland, Ahmed Hasain. In a gesture that truly illustrates the meaning of community spirit, the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland is willing to offer up to four classrooms to the Muslim national school to facilitate newly arriving children and young people from Ukraine, irrespective of their religion.

I take this opportunity to acknowledge the great work done by our schools and communities to welcome children and young people from Ukraine, as well as their families. Once again, Chair, I thank the committee for the invitation to attend today to provide an update on the important work that is being done to support learners from Ukraine with special educational needs.