Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

A big problem is that the Minister is leaving much of it to individual schools and this can lead to patchy outcomes and a lack of proper planning and accountability. There is no mandatory obligation on schools to implement the recommendations of the report, as the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act has not been implemented in full and special educational needs organisers do not even attend the individual education plan, IEP, process for that reason. There is no mandatory requirement on schools to provide IEPs and many do not provide them.

A more hands-on approach is needed, as is a more centralised policy. Firmer guidance must be put in place by Government. Some schools will come up trumps, while others will not. Unless the Government is prepared to implement the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act in full, then children will continue to be left short. The Minister knows that if the money was allocated to this, it would make a massive difference to these children because they are the most vulnerable of all. They keep falling behind because the Minister argues she does not have the money to look after them.

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