Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her topical question. The AON process is provided for under the Disability Act and is under the remit of the HSE. The Deputy will be aware that there was a court decision and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is now required to assist the HSE purely in respect of the educational assessment of the needs of children who have applied to the HSE for an AON. In complying with this requirement, the NCSE will work with schools, which already hold extensive information arising from teachers' everyday practice in assessing their students and differentiating the curriculum to meet their educational needs. As the Deputy is aware, such information is currently collated and held by schools on the student support plan.

Specifically on the Deputy's question, the Department and the NCSE have worked intensively to ensure the process put in place to support the educational component of the AON fulfils legal obligations and is rooted in existing assessment practices in schools. A trial commenced last June involved 63 schools, as the Deputy stated. That trial period was extended to encompass 80 schools. My officials and I are very grateful to all those who participated, particularly the 80 schools that assisted in the process and provided detailed feedback on the guidance documents and the process. That feedback was incorporated into the guidance documents and the form itself.

The Deputy may be aware that the revised documents and the report of education needs form issued to schools yesterday, 1 February. When schools receive requests from the NCSE to complete that form, it is intended that they can use the revised forms and support documents. I recognise it is a new process for schools and we are anxious to support them through the NCSE and our officials.

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