Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 420: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on correspondence regarding a person (details supplied); if provision will be made by his Department to enable the student in question an additional year at second level education in view of their particular circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25253/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be aware that special schools cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from 4 years of age until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. At that point, the health sector assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years. My Department, at that stage, may allocate resources towards an education component of such provision.

It is expected that a school will have been liaising with the health authorities during the final year of a young person's attendance in school to ensure the young person's successful transition to adult services by the time s/he reaches age 18.

The young person in question is now 18 years of age. The school authorities have been advised that my Department will not be sanctioning an additional year of school attendance.