Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

52. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on his plans for the full implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 in view of the fact that it is now a decade since this Act was passed by the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23365/14]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to advise the Deputy that a significant number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act have been commenced, principally those establishing the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and those promoting an inclusive approach to the education of children with special educational needs. In light of the very difficult economic situation and the significant costs involved, the previous Government deferred the full implementation of EPSEN.

In 2012, my Department requested the NCSE to provide policy advice on how the education system can best support children with special educational needs. The NCSE Report on Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs in Schools has now been published and is available on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie. While the report recommends that the EPSEN Act be fully implemented as soon as possible, the report also states that the NCSE recognises that the current economic climate makes it unlikely that the Government will be able to implement this recommendation in the short to medium term.

While awaiting the full implementation of the EPSEN Act, the NCSE has made a number of recommendations aimed at developing a better or more effective alternative to the current resource allocation model, which aims to move the system towards ultimate implementation of the EPSEN Act. It also recommends that under a proposed new allocation model, all children should be allocated additional resources in line with their level of need, rather than by disability category. The Chairperson of the Working Group which was established to develop proposals for a new resource allocation model, submitted its report to me on 5th March and I am considering the report's recommendations.