Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the progress report from the National Council for Special Education-appointed working group, tasked with developing a new model for the allocation of resources to schools in line with the NCSE's main recommendations, has been received as expected by the end of September; if the report will be published; and if there will be an opportunity for interested parties to make comments and suggestions on the report which could ultimately aid the working group in its work. [42175/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has established a working group to develop a proposal, for consideration, for a new model for the allocation of teaching supports for children with special educational needs, based on the educational profile of a school. Mr. Eamon Stack, the NCSE chairperson and former chief inspector in my Department, has been appointed to chair this working group. I received an oral briefing from the chairperson on the progress of the work of this group to date on 2 October 2013. The group expects to complete its work by the end of spring next year.

The NCSE consulted widely with interested parties in developing its policy advice and I understand that the working group has also consulted a range of interested parties as its work has progressed. The final proposals will be considered by my Department prior to any changes being made to the existing allocation system.

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I understood the report was to be published in September. There are ongoing delays, so it will not be until the end of spring. I ask this question in the context of the concerns of parents of children with Down's syndrome and the campaign by Down's syndrome educational quality advocates to have Down's syndrome recognised as a low incidence disability by the Department and be awarded maximum hours under resource teaching.

Children with Down's syndrome may also have hearing and visual impairments as well as gross and fine motor delays, which causes difficulty with writing and drawing, and poor auditory memory, which causes difficulties processing, storing and retaining verbal information. The general allocation model does not meet such complex needs. The Minister received an oral progress report. Would he like to share anything with us?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I support Deputy Kyne's call for resource teaching hours for children with Down's syndrome and to have them added to the low incidence resource qualifying hours. Will the Minister clarify the deadline for the report to be completed? Following on from that, what timeline does he expect for any new system he may consider? As Deputy Kyne said, in the meantime, children with Down's syndrome will not qualify. They are a small category and the parents' groups supporting them have estimated that for €1 million per year, they could be added to the list to automatically receive resource hours. That is something the Minister should reconsider. He has taken the line that he will not include them but will he reconsider that position?

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with my colleagues, Deputies Kyne and McConalogue, on this issue. I also declare an interest in that I am the parent of a daughter with Down's syndrome, although she is well reared at this stage. Did the working group consult the parents in Down Syndrome Ireland who represent more than 2,000 families on these resource hours? Many parents feel that with a little discretion, a little development and a little support, we could do amazing things for young children with Down's syndrome because it has been proved that if one puts money into early education it will cost the State less at the end of the spectrum - when they grow up to be adults - because they will be more independent and assertive. There is an economic argument as well as educational and human rights arguments. Did the working group consult Down Syndrome Ireland and the parents directly involved in this issue?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In response to Deputy Kyne, an impression might have been given that a report was due in September. That was not the intention. A progress report to me was due but not a report. It was always understood that the report would be due next spring at the earliest. In response to Deputy McConalogue, it will probably take another full year to implement it - to change the existing allocation model. We are at least two and a half years away from a different model of allocation to the one we were discussing earlier. I am not sure if the group had a specific meeting with Down Syndrome Ireland but I can find out for the House.

The members of the working group are Eamon Stack; Áine Lynch, who is the chief executive officer of the National Parents Council; Mary Byrne, who is the secretary of special education; Katherine O'Leary, who is a parent and board director with Inclusion Ireland; Don Mahon, who is an assistant inspector in the Department; Anne English, who is the principal of a primary school; Maureen Costello, who is the director of the National Educational Psychological Service; Antoinette Nic Gearailt, who is the principal of a post-primary school; Peter Archer, who is the director of the Educational Research Centre in Drumcondra; Pat Kinsella, who is an NCSE member; Brian Mac Giolla Phádraig, who is an inspector in the Department; Eithne Fitzgerald, who is the head of policy and research in the National Disability Authority; James O'Grady, who is another NCSE member; and a member of staff from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. I will find out whether Down Syndrome Ireland has been consulted. There is no reason representatives of that organisation cannot be met with if that has not already happened.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I think it is important that they would be.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Yes.