Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Seanadóir fá choinne na ceiste seo, ceist atá iontach tábhachtach do scoileanna speisialta timpeall na tíre. Gabhaim aitheantas do na daoine uilig atá ag obair iontu - na múinteoirí agus na daoine eile - fá choinne an cheannaireacht a léiríonn siad sna scoileanna atá i gceist. Tá míbhuntáistí ann maidir le hárachas. Táim cinnte go bhfuil obair de dhíth ach tá dul chun cinn déanta go dtí seo freisin. Tá sonraí agam anseo.

I thank the Senator for raising this matter. My Department is aware of issues relating to significant increases in insurance costs in some special schools. St. Teresa's special school in Ballinasloe was the first to raise this issue through my colleagues in the Oireachtas.I want to acknowledge my colleagues for bringing that to my attention. The issue the Senator is raising relates to Saplings special school in Carlow. We have made progress over the last period in discussions with the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education. The increased insurance costs of special schools appear to be due to annual increases in insurance costs generally and, in some cases, increases in claims. The Department of Education and Skills is working as a matter of urgency with relevant Departments, including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and with the State Claims Agency to seek a resolution to the issue of increased insurance costs in special schools.

A number of options have been identified to address the issue. These include the development of a group insurance scheme for special schools. The National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education is engaging with its member boards of management in this regard. A meeting of the boards and patrons took place on 6 June to discuss the matter and the options available. This meeting was attended by an official from the Department. The group scheme proposal appears to be the most viable option at this stage. The importance of all schools signing up for such a scheme was emphasised at the recent meeting. All school representatives who were in attendance were in favour of exploring the group scheme option. Although the Department of Education and Skills has advanced school capitation payments on an exceptional basis to a small number of schools that recently experienced difficulty in paying insurance premiums, it is not sustainable for the Department to continue to advance capitation payments as a way of meeting vastly increased insurance premiums. I know this is a cause of concern for schools as well. Officials from the Department have been in contact with Saplings special school in Carlow on this matter. Representatives of the school have been briefed on the situation. I hope a speedy and cost-effective resolution can be secured for impacted special schools.