Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)

I thank the witnesses for coming before us this morning and they are welcome to the committee. I support Deputy Quaide on the question of suspensions. It is something I am concerned about and I raised it at the meeting last week. I will follow his questions on assessments of need. While I have serious concern about outsourcing and privatisation, I want to focus more on the actual assessment and the plan for dealing with the current situation. Part of the remit of the authority is to advise the Government on disability policy and related issues. Well over 16,000 children are awaiting assessment and we are told it will be something like 20,000 by the end of the year. Even with the announcement yesterday, it is quite clear we are going to be running to stand still at best.

Has the Government requested the authority to advise it on this issue and how it might be dealt with? If it has not asked this question, has the authority advised the Government and, if so, what has it told the Government? If it has not been asked or told, will the witnesses give us some indication of the authority's thinking on how this issue will be dealt with? Assessments of need are the basis for all education, including inclusive education. Generally we need to know what students need, and for students with additional needs we need to know specifically what their requirements are. Has the Government asked the authority to advise it on this area? If so, has the authority advised it and what has it told the Government? If the Government has not asked the authority, does the authority propose to do this as part of its remit? What are the thoughts of the witnesses on this?