Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 551: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when students will be informed of changes in view of the fact that she is currently in negotiation with representatives from Froebel College regarding the diploma in special needs education which appears to be centred on the issue of increasing the number of hours and modules to bring this diploma course into line with other recognised Department courses in this area and would require students who already commenced this course in September 2006 to attend additional classes over and above the level expected when they commenced same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12365/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy has pointed out, my Department is currently involved in negotiations with Froebel regarding the provision of a post-graduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs. These discussions commenced in summer 2006. A proposal outlining areas that need to be addressed was received on 19/1/07 and is currently under consideration. A circular issued by my Department to all schools in February of this year provides details of the Combined Post-Graduate Diploma Programme of Continuous Professional Development for Teachers involved in meeting the needs of pupils requiring learning support teaching and pupils with special educational needs. This course is recognised by my Department and details of the Colleges and Institutions providing it are listed in this circular which is issued annually to all Primary and Second-Level schools. The course currently run by Froebel is a Diploma course for Resource Teachers. It is, first and foremost the responsibility of Froebel College to make students aware, on entry to this course, that it does not have recognition from my Department as being equivalent to the Combined Course which I have referred to above. Should my Department consider that a revised Post-Graduate Diploma provided by Froebel warrants recognition, then those students who graduated from the Diploma for Resource Teachers may be required to undertake further studies to bring them up to level of the Combined Post-Graduate Diploma. The requirements for such an upgrade are being discussed as part of the ongoing negotiations.