Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I see a great opportunity to expand the funding schemes in the Department, with specific emphasis on empowering local schools to increase their special education resources. I am thinking specifically about repurposing the minor works scheme and the summer works scheme. I am aware that the Department has increased the rate of capitalisation per special needs pupil in a school but it does not allow for meaningful projects in many rural schools with low pupil numbers.

There are other avenues to increase special education funding, such as the creation of a special education grant like the basic grant already paid to schools. This would enable small-scale projects to be pursued specifically for meeting special educational needs. It would empower local principals and families who want to use more local schools as avenues.

Regarding the NCSE, it is a matter of SENOs recognising parents and guardians as key stakeholders in respect of the child and committing to good relationships. I would go so far as to say we need a dramatic reform of the process for assessing pupils’ needs and of how the NCSE engages with education plans for children.

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