Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)

I thank all the Members for their contributions. The report was published last week and is before the House this week, which shows the urgency with which the Government treats the issue of special education. The one thing I am always encouraged by is the depth of knowledge of Members of the House about special education and the challenges being faced by families and I compliment them on that. I urge them to continue that because there is a sense of urgency and genuineness across all parties and none. There was a sense of urgency and genuineness in the contributions - not in a confrontational way but in a way that asked Government to ensure there is action. I have taken note of some of the issues and I will follow up as best I can because I believe this is one of the major issues facing us and we will be judged on how we address it.

The report gives us an opportunity to reflect, reassess and realign. It is not just a policy check point but is a reminder of the distance we have travelled over the past 20 years or so and the distance we must go to ensure we meet the needs that are out there. I was Chair of the Oireachtas education committee 20 years ago when the EPSEN Act was going through. At that time, people spoke about mainstreaming and policies we now accept are the norm. We must ensure the policies we are going to bring in will strengthen special education and ensure unmet need is met across communities.

We have listened to the lived experience of all stakeholders, particularly children and young people in reaching the recommendations. More than two decades ago, the EPSEN Act outlined a clear vision. This vision had ambition and was forward thinking and rooted in the principle that every child regardless of his or her ability had a right to a quality education and an inclusive setting where possible. The overall vision has not changed. The review and the contributions of Members today make clear that our system has not fully delivered on this. There are clear steps that can be taken to address this. Some of the welcome policy recommendations are already in progress and work is under way to publish the implementation plan for the remaining recommendations before year end. I am giving an undertaking that we will work with stakeholders to ensure we have an implementation plan for the report.

While the work of SNAs is greatly valued by students, parents and teaching staff, as evidenced by the EPSEN survey and focus group response, the role has not been consistently understood or interpreted. The role of SNA was developed over 20 or 25 years ago. SNAs have become an integral and valued part of our education system. When public representatives from across the House visit special classes or schools, they see the work being done by SNAs in collaboration with all the other stakeholders in the education system. To that end, the SNA assistance workforce development unit was established in December 2022 within the Department. It brings a strategic approach to special needs assistant policy development with the objective of developing an enhanced SNA service that delivers the best care to students with significant care needs in our schools. The Department has begun on the first SNA workforce development plan with a scheduled completion date of September 2025. Work on this project is nearing completion and will be a welcome step forward with regard to the role of the SNA in our education system.

Inclusive Education Ireland is engaging with Technical Support Instruments, a European Commission programme that will provide a pathway towards inclusive education. In its response, the NCSE's policy advice, the Department has recognised that the advice is consistent with Ireland's obligation under the UNCRPD. The Department has also identified a number of existing and planned initiatives that provide a pathway to inclusion.

To assist with further development of inclusive education and anticipating a report in the NCSE policy advice, the Department's special education section applied for funding in 2022 to the EU, which manages the EU's Technical Support Instruments programme. This programme will enable member states to apply for support in managing large-scale system reforms. The application was successful and €500,000 has been sanctioned in consultation support to assist in shaping the Department's response to policy advice.

A number of issues were raised regarding how families and students are engaging with the challenges that are there. A disability section has been set up in the Department of the Taoiseach while the Cabinet committee on disability meets regularly and has been one of the committees that has met most often since the formation of the Government to develop policy. We are bringing therapists into special schools starting in September 2025. It will involve occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. We must ensure we look at other therapists as well such as those involved in music therapy and behavioural therapists. They are hugely important.

There have been a number of Private Members' motions and statements on special education. I know all Members are sincere about the issues they raised. We have a long way to go and we have travelled a long way with regard to special education. The report underlines two issues. One concerns the legislative changes we need. That will take some time to ensure we deliver them properly. The other issue is policy change. Many policies are being looked at in terms of how we will have the most inclusive education system. We pride ourselves on education. Ireland Inc. has always supported education, and we have always supported education. We are endeavouring to ensure that we have the best possible education system.

The review of the common application pilot is under way. Many have spoken, including some Members today, of families having to apply for multiple schools for their child. We want to make sure that we have that in place and that it is something that will alleviate the burden for families. As I said, there are specific times for families with additional needs, first when they go to pre-school, then to primary school and post-primary school and then beyond education. We will have to make sure that systems and policies are in place, backed up with resources.

The Government, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I are hugely committed to special education. We have had numerous meetings. We meet on a weekly basis on school places and on making sure we have appropriate places for children into the next school year. We are desperately committed on it. This is the whole-of-government and a huge amount of time has been spent in the last while to make sure we have the best possible system.

There are a number of other issues. On the summer programme, this is going on in some schools this week or next week. I compliment all the schools that have taken on the summer programme, which has provided places for over 56,000 children this year. That is welcome.

There are other issues and if I had the time I could talk for another hour and a half on this and I probably would not get beyond the tip of the iceberg. All I will say is that the senior Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I are extremely committed to the project. We welcome the report. It is a blueprint for how we will go forward. We will be judged on how we implement the report. We intend to bring that forward as early as possible this year.

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