Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The issue I am raising on the Adjournment relates to an anomaly in the allocation of educational resource hours to children with Down's syndrome who attend mainstream primary schools. Down's syndrome is a chromosomal anomaly which causes a global development delay. Approximately 80 children with this syndrome are enrolled in mainstream primary schools each year and the syndrome is not currently listed by the Department of Education and Skills as a complex low-incidence disorder. This means that some children with Down's syndrome are not entitled to resource hours. It is estimated that approximately 40% of children in the State who have Down's syndrome do not receive an allocation of resource hours. Some 82 children in County Donegal with Down's syndrome do not receive resource hours in mainstream primary schools, which is wholly inappropriate, as it is creating an inequality in the education system. It discriminates against children with Down's syndrome.

As I understand it, the Department's special education circular, 02/05, provides that a child with Down's syndrome must have a second disability in order to access vital resource hours. I have a copy of the circular with me in the Chamber. I am calling for Down's syndrome to be recognised in its own right by the Department. Children with Down's syndrome cannot and should not be categorised as having mild or moderate learning disabilities. Such a categorisation does not reflect all of the aspects of the syndrome generically.

Education policy in Ireland places children with Down's syndrome at a disadvantage or in an unfair position by not supporting their full educational development to the degree that other people with disabilities are supported in the system. The children concerned deserve every opportunity to reach their full potential. They deserve to be treated in a manner which encompasses the word "equality" and allows them to be cherished equally within the education system. They deserve to be allowed to advance their educational opportunities. This is obviously an issue that needs to be addressed. We are talking about a small number of pupils within the State and we are doing them a great disservice by not allowing Down's syndrome to be regarded as a full-scale disability and not allowing the children concerned to develop to their full potential. I hope the Minister of State will take this on board. I know Down Syndrome Ireland has been lobbying to have this anomaly corrected and hope the Minister of State and the Minister will be in a position to deal with this issue and put matters right as quickly as possible.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to be given the opportunity by the Senator to clarify the position on the provision of teaching support tor children with Down's syndrome. The position is that pupils with Down's syndrome who are attending mainstream primary schools may receive additional teaching support in primary schools, either under the terms of the general allocation model of teaching supports, if the pupil's educational psychological assessment places the pupil in the mild general learning disability or high incidence disability category, or through an allocation of individual additional resource teaching hours which are allocated to schools by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, if the child is assessed as being within the low incidence category of special need, as defined by my Department's circular, Special Education 02/05. Pupils with Down's syndrome who are assessed as being within the category of mild general learning disability but who also have an additional assessment of another low incidence disability such as hearing impairment will also be supported by an additional allocation made by the NCSE. Resource teaching provision is, therefore, made for children with Down's syndrome in the same manner as for other children with assessed syndromes and in accordance with the policy of my Department set out in Circular 02/05. It should be noted that, whether resource teaching hours are allocated to schools under the general allocation model or through an allocation made by the NCSE based on individual low incidence special needs, it is ultimately a matter for schools to utilise and manage these resources to best provide for the teaching needs of qualifying children. Each school will use its professional judgement to decide how the provision of additional resource teaching time and hours is made for the qualifying pupils in the school to ensure all of their individual needs are met. Additional teaching time may be provided for pupils on an individual basis or in pairs or small groups. It may also be provided in the classroom through team teaching or withdrawal to a resource teaching room. Guidance for schools on the management of their resource teaching allocations is provided in the circular, Special Education 02/05.

I advise the Senator that the NCSE which has a formal role under section 20 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 to advise the Minister for Education and Skills on any matter relating to the education of children and others with disabilities has been asked to provide policy advice on the issue of whether Down's syndrome should be reclassified as a low incidence disability in all instances, regardless of assessed cognitive ability. This advice will be included in the NCSE's policy advice on how the education system can best support children with special educational needs which will be presented to the Minister shortly. As I am not in a position to pre-empt this expert policy advice, we must await the advice received from the body with the greatest expertise in this area. I can assure the Senator, however, that the Government is very conscious that meeting students' educational needs in an equitable manner is the paramount consideration which must be kept at the centre of proposals and recommendations. The position of all children with assessed syndromes and special educational needs must be considered in any review of policy. The Minister will give full consideration to this matter once the policy advice has been received.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Minister of State's response. He has noted that the matter is being looked at and I agree with him that we cannot pre-empt that consideration. However, taking on board the campaign being launched by Down Syndrome Ireland and given that I am not sure whether the Minister, Deputy Quinn, or the Minister of State has met Down Syndrome Ireland, I urge that its views be taken into consideration before a decision is taken and that a meeting be scheduled with its CEO to discuss the outcome of the NCSE's policy report.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Education policy in Ireland places children with Down's syndrome at a disadvantage or in an unfair position by not supporting their full educational development to the degree that other people with disabilities are supported in the system. The children concerned deserve every opportunity to reach their full potential. They deserve to be treated in a manner which encompasses the word "equality" and allows them to be cherished equally within the education system. They deserve to be allowed to advance their educational opportunities. This is obviously an issue that needs to be addressed. We are talking about a small number of pupils within the State and we are doing them a great disservice by not allowing Down's syndrome to be regarded as a full-scale disability and not allowing the children concerned to develop to their full potential. I hope the Minister of State will take this on board. I know Down Syndrome Ireland has been lobbying to have this anomaly corrected and hope the Minister of State and the Minister will be in a position to deal with this issue and put matters right as quickly as possible.

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to be given the opportunity by the Senator to clarify the position on the provision of teaching support tor children with Down's syndrome. The position is that pupils with Down's syndrome who are attending mainstream primary schools may receive additional teaching support in primary schools, either under the terms of the general allocation model of teaching supports, if the pupil's educational psychological assessment places the pupil in the mild general learning disability or high incidence disability category, or through an allocation of individual additional resource teaching hours which are allocated to schools by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, if the child is assessed as being within the low incidence category of special need, as defined by my Department's circular, Special Education 02/05. Pupils with Down's syndrome who are assessed as being within the category of mild general learning disability but who also have an additional assessment of another low incidence disability such as hearing impairment will also be supported by an additional allocation made by the NCSE. Resource teaching provision is, therefore, made for children with Down's syndrome in the same manner as for other children with assessed syndromes and in accordance with the policy of my Department set out in Circular 02/05. It should be noted that, whether resource teaching hours are allocated to schools under the general allocation model or through an allocation made by the NCSE based on individual low incidence special needs, it is ultimately a matter for schools to utilise and manage these resources to best provide for the teaching needs of qualifying children. Each school will use its professional judgement to decide how the provision of additional resource teaching time and hours is made for the qualifying pupils in the school to ensure all of their individual needs are met. Additional teaching time may be provided for pupils on an individual basis or in pairs or small groups. It may also be provided in the classroom through team teaching or withdrawal to a resource teaching room. Guidance for schools on the management of their resource teaching allocations is provided in the circular, Special Education 02/05.

I advise the Senator that the NCSE which has a formal role under section 20 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 to advise the Minister for Education and Skills on any matter relating to the education of children and others with disabilities has been asked to provide policy advice on the issue of whether Down's syndrome should be reclassified as a low incidence disability in all instances, regardless of assessed cognitive ability. This advice will be included in the NCSE's policy advice on how the education system can best support children with special educational needs which will be presented to the Minister shortly. As I am not in a position to pre-empt this expert policy advice, we must await the advice received from the body with the greatest expertise in this area. I can assure the Senator, however, that the Government is very conscious that meeting students' educational needs in an equitable manner is the paramount consideration which must be kept at the centre of proposals and recommendations. The position of all children with assessed syndromes and special educational needs must be considered in any review of policy. The Minister will give full consideration to this matter once the policy advice has been received.

Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Minister of State's response. He has noted that the matter is being looked at and I agree with him that we cannot pre-empt that consideration. However, taking on board the campaign being launched by Down Syndrome Ireland and given that I am not sure whether the Minister, Deputy Quinn, or the Minister of State has met Down Syndrome Ireland, I urge that its views be taken into consideration before a decision is taken and that a meeting be scheduled with its CEO to discuss the outcome of the NCSE's policy report.