Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1072: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has concluded her examination of the National Council for Special Education implementation report in relation to the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. [2543/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The National Council for Special Education was required by the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 to make a report on the implementation of the Act. This report is essentially advice to the Minister on the steps the Council considers should be taken to implement the Act. The report sets out an action plan, where the Council envisages implementation of the provisions of the Act over a four year period. The Council report acknowledges that further work, analysis and discussion, especially with the key stakeholders involved, needed to take place given the extensive and fundamental developments required to implement the Act. The report further acknowledged that it would not be appropriate for the Council to be prescriptive nor definitive in many areas, and it has put forward its views and recommendations in order to stimulate the necessary discussions and debate.

I have previously indicated that I accept the core thrust of the principles and recommendations set out by the Council in its Implementation Report, and I am anxious to implement the Act in full in the quickest time possible. However, having considered the scale of the issues raised in the Council's implementation plan, and the consultations to date with the Education Partners, I consider that a five year timeframe is the appropriate period in which to implement the provisions of the Act. As the Deputy will be aware, the legislature, in passing the Act, clearly recognised that implementation would require a considerable change agenda and, for this reason, the Act specifically allows for a five year implementation period.

A working group in my Department is finalising its examination of the Councils Implementation Report and the issues raised in discussions with the Education Partners are also being considered in this context. It is envisaged that proposals for the implementation of the Act will be completed shortly with a view to the full implementation of the Act by 2010.

My Department is anxious to work closely with the staff of the Council in regard to the examination of the Report and to advance the implementation process. The staff of the Council has been kept informed of the status of the examination and of the issues associated with the implementation of the Act.

It must also be acknowledged that, during this necessary period of preparation and planning for the roll-out of the EPSEN Act, my Department continues to expand capacity and services for students with special educational needs. I am committed to continuing this expansion of services to ensure that schools have the necessary capacity to support students with special educational needs.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1073: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the budget available for each year since 2002 respectively under the equipment for use by students with disabilities in second level schools with a list of the equipment covered by the scheme; the amount expended under this scheme for each year since 2002 respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2567/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department provides for a scheme of grants towards the purchase of equipment for the use of students in second-level schools who have been diagnosed as having serious physical and/or communicative disabilities of a degree which makes ordinary communication through speech and/or writing impossible for them. The purpose of the grant-aid is to provide the students in question with equipment of direct educational benefit to them. Examples of such equipment include laptop computers, desktop computers, word processors, tape recorders, software, tapes, braillers, audiology equipment etc.

Following the establishment of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), all applications for assistive technology are submitted by school management to the Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) with assigned responsibility for the school. The SENO examines applications and makes a recommendation to my Department.

The annual amount expended on equipment for students with disabilities in second-level schools since 2002 is as follows:

2002 — €474,127.99; 2003 — €469,810.71; 2004 — €385,224.46; 2005 — €406,171.30; 2006 — €501,075.36; 2007 — €542,967.83.