Seanad debates

Tuesday, 5 October 2021

Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters

Special Educational Needs

2:30 pm

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I offer apologies from the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. I thank the Senator for raising this matter. Enabling students with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this Government.

The policy of the Department of Education is that students with special needs should be included, where possible and appropriate, in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. Where students require more specialised interventions, a continuum of education provision extends to include access to special school or special class places. This continuum is consistent with the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, EPSEN, Act. There are extensive supports in place in terms of additional teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs, to support students across the continuum of provision.

The level of investment in special education, at almost €2 billion, is at an all-time high. As a result, the numbers of special education teachers, SNAs, special classes and special school places are at unprecedented levels.An additional 269 additional special classes opened this school year, bringing the total number of special classes nationally to 2,118. The new classes provide 1,600 additional places, spread throughout the country.

Some 124 special schools provide specialist education for approximately 8,000 students annually. The Department has also established two new special schools in Cork and Dublin which are now open for the 2021-2022 school year, which I know will be welcomed by everyone. These schools provide specialist educational services for students who have the most severe or complex levels of disabilities or special educational needs.

The Senator may also be aware that the Minister, Deputy Foley and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan recently launched guidelines on the use of reduced school days. These guidelines aim to ensure the use of reduced school days is limited solely to those circumstances where it is absolutely necessary. They have been developed following consultation with the relevant education partners and give direction to school authorities on the process to be followed where the use of reduced school days is under consideration for a pupil.

I should also state that section 29 of the Education Act 1998 allows for appeals against the decision of a board of management of a school to suspend or exclude a student permanently, which speaks to the point made by the Senator. This is a necessary provision to safeguard the rights of all children in a school.

In accordance with section 24(4) of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000, "A student shall not be expelled from a school before the passing of 20 school days following the receipt of a notification under this section by an educational welfare officer." This section of the Act provides for the educational welfare officer to convene a meeting with the school and the parents and any other persons, as agreed, to attend to make reasonable efforts to ensure provision is made for the continued education of the student to whom the notification relates.

Where a student is expelled, section 29 of the Education Act 1998 provides for an appeal where a board of management, or a person acting on behalf of the board of management, normally the school principal, expels a student. To make an appeal, a parent, guardian or the pupil, if over 18 years, must complete the section 29 appeal form for expulsion or suspension. The Department does not hold the details on the number of children expelled from school and only has details on the number of appeals taken under section 29 in respect of expulsions. Since November 2020, there have been 32 appeals received in respect of expulsions from schools.

Through the work of the educational welfare officers and the special educational needs organisers, support is available for both the school and the parents at a local level. I thank Senator Seery Kearney for giving me the opportunity to address this issue.

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