Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Tully. On her first point about disability and autism training, I absolutely see where she is coming from. I spent long enough teaching to appreciate the importance of giving confidence, and confidence will only come when people feel they have the familiarity and training in it. Regarding the Teaching Council, inclusive education is now part of the initial teacher training qualification. Teachers must be trained in that as part of their affiliation and accreditation with the Teaching Council. I appreciate that CPD in this area is very important, but if we get it right starting with the new teachers coming out and it being part of their course and qualification, that is the most valid building brick we have. We must continue to offer CPD alongside that.

Therapeutic supports have been raised by a number of speakers. We have made progress in consultation with the Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth and at the Department of Health, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, and those Departments. It is an advantage, obviously, to the schools. We need to have those resources in our schools. We are seeing a step-by-step return now, with 136 posts coming into the special schools, 44 of which have been automatically reinstated. The others will come in three tranches. The Department of Education can make the provision for teaching staff with one teacher and two SNAs and the other therapeutic supports, but we are also working with the other Department to ensure that that is put in place. Obviously, it is a holistic approach.

On the remote area grant and the 8 August date, I take Deputy Tully's point. We are coming close to finalising the entire root-and-branch review of school transport and looking at mechanisms of how to refine it. It has improved of late, and I appreciate the Deputy's acknowledgement of that. There are areas where we absolutely can do better and I certainly will take that point on board about timing, etc.

On the July provision and the model the Deputy referenced in other schools, I have seen some of those models and they are superb, where schools and staff were thinking outside the box and they went to other organisations or groups or third-level students, etc. To be fair, regarding third-level students, that happens quite a lot already. They are relied upon quite a lot, but there is greater scope there. That is why I earlier referenced that we are looking at other models - the Deputy is familiar with Malta. We are looking specifically at approaching different groups and organisations, seeing the models that have worked and doing things differently for the model that will unfold for summer 2023. I am absolutely committed to ensuring that we have maximum uptake, if at all possible.

I have a few other points on schools and the resources made available to them.

From the Department's point of view, aside from staff, both teachers and SNAs, a considerable special-class start-up grant of €6,500 is also made available to the school, as well as an ICT grant of €6,700 and an enhanced capitation grant which is around €720 per student. The Department of Education gives considerable resources to special education and that is right and proper. I know I am repeating myself when I say that 25% of our entire budget is now dedicated to special education. As I said at the start, considerable progress has been made. We are moving in the right direction. A body of work still needs to be done, but I will certainly take on board the positive and concrete suggestions made by the Deputy. I appreciate that.