Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on concerns expressed by the Irish National Teachers Organisation that have said that the implementation of recommendations, including changes in the allocation of resources, that are proposed in the National Council for Special Education report, Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools, would dismantle two decades of progress integrating special needs children in mainstream schools. [25397/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that last year, I requested the NCSE to review and make recommendations on the supports that we provide to children with special educational needs and how they are allocated, to ensure we are delivering the best possible educational experience and outcomes for our children. The NCSE have now published thier policy advice on Support Students with Special Educational Needs in Schools, which is available on the website www.ncse.ie. The NCSE Report is clear that there are many aspects of the current system which parents and schools are very happy with. However, the NCSE also considers that there are concerns in relation to some aspects of our current system, under the headings of Enrolment, Assessments, and the Supports for children with Special Educational Needs and their allocation. The Report makes 28 detailed recommendations which the NCSE feels would help to address these issues.

One of the key principles which informs the NCSE advice is the principle of inclusive education. All of the report recommendations are therefore aimed at enhancing the educational experiences of children with special educational needs in schools, including the experience of children in mainstream schools, and building on the progress which we have already made. The recommendations in the Report are both interesting and significant. They deserve in-depth and detailed examination and exploration. That is why I have asked my Department to carefully review the recommendations and report back to me on them.

I am also very conscious that in making any changes to our supports for children with Special Educational Needs, we also need to protect the gains we have made. I would therefore like to give an assurance that further consultation with stakeholders, including the Irish National Teachers Organisation, will be a key aspect in the implementation of any of these recommendations.