Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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In the pilot, 75 schools engaged in the school inclusion model under which the therapist went into the school and worked with the teacher. It involves collaborating with the teacher and indirectly working with the pupils as well. This is all about evidence-based policy and the evidence was that the teacher felt more equipped. It is not the primary role of the teacher to be a therapist - that is not what we are saying. Parents from across the country raised with me that their children are there to learn and they want their learning outcomes to improve. We saw an improvement in learning outcomes and in behaviours. The extra resources sought by the schools in the pilot reduced because of the therapist coming in and working indirectly with the teacher. That is only one part, the part that falls within my role. I will go back to my silo again but it is a silo that is helping the health system and community therapists. We will have occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and five behavioural therapists. To explain the position, the therapists will be hired by the NCSE and they will go out to the schools. The schools will apply to the NCSE for these therapists to come and work with teachers in schools across the country.