Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason special education services are being denied to Youthreach; the plans she has to introduce such services; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25100/06]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the non-provision of special education services to Youthreach is in breach of Section 7.1 of the Education Act 1998; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25101/06]

Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason the National Council for Special Education is denying special needs services to Youthreach until the full implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Needs Act 2004. [25102/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 to 216, inclusive, together.

Youthreach provides two years' integrated education, training and work experience to young people aged 15-20 years who are at least six months in the labour market and who have left school early without any qualifications or vocational training. The programme provides a strong emphasis on personal development, on the core skills of literacy/numeracy, communications and IT.

It is my Department's policy to seek to encourage and facilitate the participation of people with disabilities on programmes offered in the Further Education Sector. Generally, issues of access for individuals to Further Education Programmes are addressed at local level. Where a student with special needs is admitted to a Youthreach centre, educational supports, equipment and training, as appropriate, are provided in the centre in accordance with the learning aims and objectives of the programme.

Currently my Department has provided €500,000 for a national programme for staff training. This training will allow staff, as a team, to identify and respond to the special needs of their learners on an individual basis. The focus of this training is on individual assessment, programme planning, student mentoring and interagency work. This interagency work involves collaboration between centres, other statutory agencies and community based services, eg. The Health Service Executive, Probation Service, Addiction Services etc.

In 2005 special grants of €1.5 million were provided by my Department to Vocational Education Committees to upgrade services through the purchase of equipment and materials, or refurbishment or minor structural works or materials to enhance the provision for students with disabilities. With effect from 1 January 2005 the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) took over key functions from my Department in relation to special educational provision. The NCSE was formally established as an independent statutory body on 1 October 2005 and acts under the broad policy direction of my Department. The Council does not at present provide a service to students with special needs in Youthreach centres but it is expected that such a service will be available when all the provisions of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004, are fully implemented.

The special needs of learners attending Youthreach centres are under active consideration at present.