Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

Given the scale of the improvements provided for in the Act, which amount to a significant transformation of special education services over a very short time, the legislation provides for its provisions to be phased in over a five-year period and to full implementation by 2010. I have said from the start that it was vital to improve the supports available to schools before they become subject to new responsibilities under the Act, and we have been doing that. Since 2004, investment in special education has doubled to €900 million, almost 6,000 additional special education staff have been put in place and training for teachers has been dramatically improved.

Guidance has issued to primary schools on the continuum of assessment and intervention, with specific advice on devising and implementing individual education plans. Second level schools have also received specific advice on how to meet the particular challenges of including children with special needs at post-primary level.

A cross-sectoral team has also been established, comprising senior officials from my Department, the NCSE, the Department of Health and Children and the HSE. This team is working hard to co-ordinate the implementation of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 and the relevant sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. The appointment of Deputy Jimmy Devins as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science and at the Department of Health and Children has also helped to improve co-ordination between the two sectors in the interests of a better service for children.

Tonight's motion refers to the need for an independent appeals process. As Opposition Members should be aware, this is specifically provided for in the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act.

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