Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there is no Irish National Teachers Organisation member on the national Council for Special Education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31000/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The National Council for Special Education is appointed in accordance with Section 21 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 which requires that the chairperson and 12 ordinary members of the Council are appointed by the Minister from among persons who have a special interest in, or knowledge relating to, the education of children with special educational needs.

Before making appointments to the Council, the Minister is required to consult with national associations of parents, recognised trade unions and staff associations representing teachers and principals of schools, and recognised school management organisations with a view, where the Minister considers it appropriate to do so, to appointing as members of the Council persons nominated for such appointment by those associations, trade unions and organisations, but the number of nominees of those associations, trade unions and organisations (taken as a whole) that may be so appointed shall not exceed 4.

The Minister is required to appoint 2 members to the Council from among persons nominated for such appointment by the National Disability Authority and 1 member from among persons nominated for such appointment by the Minister for Health and Children.

The current Council members have been appointed in compliance with the relevant provisions of the Act. The current membership includes nominees from trade unions and associations, other than the INTO who were represented on previous councils. The Deputy will appreciate that, in view of the provisions of the Act, it is not possible to appoint a representative of all the recognised teacher trade unions to the Council.