Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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457. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the review carried out into the visiting teacher service; when the review will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3518/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the review of the Visiting Teacher Service was carried out in response to policy advice from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) in May 2013, which recommended that the service should be reviewed. Accordingly, my Department commissioned an independent review of the service in line with the NCSE recommendations.

The review has now been concluded and a report has been submitted to my Department. The report is currently being considered by my officials. When this process has been concluded the question of publication of the report and implementation of the Report's recommendations will be considered.

I can confirm however that my Department is committed to continuing to provide appropriate high quality resources to schools for the education of children with special educational needs, including children with hearing and visual impairment.