Dáil debates

Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Other Questions

Special Educational Needs

2:50 pm

Photo of Robert TroyRobert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress that has been made on the development of an implementation plan for those sections of the EPSEN Act 2004 that have yet to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2700/13]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act have been commenced. However, in the light of the very difficult economic situation and the significant costs involved, the previous Government deferred the full implementation of EPSEN.

The National Council for Special Education had suggested that additional investment over a period of years of up to €235 million per annum across the education and health sectors would be required to fully implement the EPSEN Act. My Department's opinion is that the level of investment required could be greater.

The NCSE has been asked to provide comprehensive policy advice on how the education system can best support children with special needs. This advice will guide the preparation of a plan on how aspects of EPSEN can be implemented, including the prioritising of access to children with special needs to an individual education plan.

2:55 pm

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response. While the EPSEN Act 2004 remains the milestone in the provision of statutory rights for children with special educational needs, there is a significant number of sections within the Act that have yet to be commenced, particularly on individual education plans.


I point out to the Minister that the programme for Government committed to publishing a plan for the implementation of the EPSEN Act. It stated:

We will publish a plan for the implementation of the EPSEN Act 2004 to prioritise access for children with special needs to an individual education plan. The priority will be to move to a system where necessary supports follow a child from primary to second level and to achieve greater integration of special needs-related services.
Today, an article in The Irish Times highlighted concerns that have been expressed by a number of autism groups that a growing number of children with special educational needs are being made to fit services not appropriate to them. Many parents are being left with little choice but to accept whatever places are available even if they do not meet their child's specific assessed needs. Can the Minister give us the timeframe within which he expects to achieve the programme for Government commitment to introduce the implementation plan?

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The NCSE has been asked to provide policy advice on the appropriate nature and configuration of educational supports which should be allocated to schools to provide a student with special educational needs with the opportunity to participate in and benefit from education and, generally, to develop his or her potential in accordance with sections 4(6) and 7(3) of the EPSEN Act. This advice will include the identification and assessment of children with special needs, the nature of supports provided for children, the way in which supports are allocated to schools and how these supports are to be configured. The advice will also consider how the allocation and utilisation of additional resources might be linked to the provision of an individual education plan. This advice is expected early in 2013.

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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It is crucial that the Minister tries to pursue the matter as promptly as possible. I understand the resource implications involved but in line with the policy objectives that have been set out since 2004, it is crucial the Minister prioritises it to ensure that children from a young age are given the assistance they need to develop as individuals.

When anyone elected to this House was coming through the education system, it bore little resemblance to the services that are available today. When I myself was going through it, the word "dyslexia" was not part of anybody's lexicon. Indeed, I have met many of those who would have been in school with me at the time who discovered later in life that such was something they were affected by, and yet nobody had any notion of it at the time and, indeed, they suffered. As the Minister stated earlier, "A stitch in time saves nine". It is time to ensure that appropriate services are delivered and I urge the Minister to ensure that the implementation plan is brought forward as quickly as possible.

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I will keep the House informed of progress. We are waiting for the NCSE to come back to us with its recommendations.

Photo of Jonathan O'BrienJonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome what the Minister stated in terms of the progress report.

The Minister may be aware, from his colleague, the Minister for Health, Deputy Reilly, that there is a reconfiguration of services being undertaken by the HSE which is impacting on the provision of services, particularly to special schools. I wonder what type of communication is taking place between the Minister, Deputy Quinn, and the Minister, Deputy Reilly's Department because there is a crossover in terms of the provision of resources, particularly to special schools.

In my county, there is a great deal of concern around the proposed reconfiguration of services. We have seen what happened in Limerick when those services were reconfigured where it put incredible strain and stress on the provision of services in special schools. Can the Minister give us some indication of the type of dialogue which is happening between both Departments?

Photo of Patrick O'DonovanPatrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Following on from the previous speaker, no doubt everybody would accept there is a blurring of lines between the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills, even in terms of making the representations. I would agree with the previous speaker that something should be done about that.

The great shame is that between 2004 and 2011 we had a fantastic opportunity to commence all the sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, but it was not done. There is considerable talk at the moment about renegotiation of public services. Would the Minister give consideration to the more achievable elements in that Act which may not cost as much as other sections might but which would have a major impact in the classroom for children with an intellectual disability or physical special needs and for their parents and teachers? In the absence of resources we may not again get an opportunity to put these issues on the table for negotiation with the unions. If this was considered in discussions on a successor to the Croke Park agreement, it would do a great service to the people.

3:00 pm

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The point of contact with the Department of Health or the delivery of the relevant services from the overall Department of Health's array of services would be through the National Council for Special Education and not through the Department of Education and Skills per se. In due course the NCSE would advise us as to what level of engagement and what kinds of services it is trying to get and share with the Department of Health, where appropriate, and what the cost implications would be from our point of view. We are not at that point. As I said in reply to Deputy McConalogue, I am expecting the advice early in 2013, but I have no indication as to what that means or when precisely I will have it.