Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)

I do not propose to accept amendments Nos. 3 and 4 in the names of Senators Rónán Mullen and Feargal Quinn. The effect of the proposals would be to maintain the position that the details of support services under section 7 of the Education Act 1998 are defined in section 2 of the Act to include speech therapy services, despite the position that such services are provided by the Health Service Executive and that funding is made to that body for the provision of these services. In addition, no service currently being provided by the Department will no longer be provided as a result of the revised legislation. Rather, the provision in the Bill as published is necessary to clarify the position in regard to the delivery of speech therapy services to students of school-going age.

In regard to Senator Averil Power's concerns, the legislative framework will be regularised in accordance with the de facto position, which is that the provision of speech therapy services is a matter for the HSE. The proposed provisions will not impact on the availability, through the HSE, of speech therapy services for children with special educational needs. The Department will continue to support the co-ordinated delivery of services to families of children with special educational needs and to work with service-providing partners in the health and disability sectors through the interdepartmental cross-sectoral team.