Written answers

Tuesday, 20 November 2007

Department of Education and Science

Special Educational Needs

8:00 pm

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 423: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if, in respect of the National Council for Special Education Implementation Report, submitted to her on 1 October 2006, she will confirm if actions 1 to 27 have all been implemented in full by her Department or the various agencies concerned within the promised commencement date; when in respect of actions 28 to 42 it is expected that such actions will be implemented in full; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29461/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) was required by the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004, to provide a report on the Implementation of the Act. This report is, essentially, advice to the Minister for Education and Science, regarding the steps the Council considers necessary to implement EPSEN, within a period not greater than five years from the starting date of the Council. The timelines in the Implementation Report are not, as mentioned by the Deputy, "promised commencement" dates. In the report, the Council itself comments that timelines are included to ensure a speedy, but realistic, approach to the implementation of EPSEN, and signals the broad range of issues, and areas where discussion needs to take place, in advance of implementation. Steps have been taken by my Department in regard to these areas. In particular, a series of consultations have been held with the education partners, including school management bodies, teachers' unions and parent representative bodies, at which a range of issues were explored in the context of delivering the provisions of the Act. Arising from this process, my Department is developing proposals for the implementation of the Act and it is hoped to complete this work shortly. At the same time, my Department continues to provide for the allocation of additional resources through the Council, to enhance the capacity of the educational system to meet special educational needs.

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