Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 436: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the implementation of the sectoral plans in her Department as part of the Disability Act 2005; if she envisages delays in the rollout of the timetable set out in her announcement in July 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40092/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is not required to produce a sectoral plan as the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (EPSEN), 2004 specifically deals with the education sector.

Both the Disability Act, 2005 and the EPSEN Act, 2004 refer to the need to co-ordinate and plan special needs resources in both the Health and Education sectors. It is proposed to commence Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 for children aged under 5 years with effect from 1st June 2007. Part 2 will be commenced in respect of children aged 5 to 18 years in tandem with the implementation of the EPSEN Act. The National Council for Special Education recently submitted its implementation report, which sets out its views and recommendations on a plan for the implementation of the EPSEN Act over a period of 5 years and this is currently being considered by my Department. The statutory requirements of Part 2 of the Disability Act will be extended to adults as soon as possible but no later than the end of 2011.