Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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485. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action taken by schools where a pupil requires speech and language supports in primary and post-primary schools; and the level of engagement between her Department and the Health Service Executive on this matter. [17559/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils who require speech and language support.

This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD) in primary schools. The criteria for enrolment in a Special Class for pupils with SSLD is set out in my Department's Circular 0038/2007.

A full-time teacher is assigned to each class, and classes operate with a reduced pupil-teacher ratio of 7:1. In addition, an enhanced capitation grant is provided to schools operating special classes for pupils with SSLD. Eligible pupils may spend up to two years in such classes.

Pupils who are not enrolled in a special class for SSLD and who meet the criteria for Specific Speech and Language Disorder, as outlined in my Department's Circular, may qualify for additional teaching support where he/she is enrolled in mainstream school.

Pupils with mild speech and language difficulties may qualify for supplementary teaching support from within the school's general allocation of learning support/teaching support. It is a matter for individual schools to use their professional judgement to identify pupils who will receive this support and to use the resources available to the school to intervene at the appropriate level with such pupils.

The provision of health supports, including Speech and Language Therapy services, is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive. Pupils with SSLD have access to speech therapy services either through the speech and language therapy services provided in the special class setting by the Health Service Executive or through the HSE primary care service.

Finally, I wish to explain that my Department works with service-providing partners in the health and disability sectors to support the co-ordinated delivery of services to families of children with special educational needs. The interdepartmental Cross-Sectoral Team, comprising of representatives of my Department, Department of Health, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the National Council for Special Education and the Health Service Executive, plans for co-ordinated service delivery across the disability sector.

In addition, my Department is a member of the Health and Education Steering Committee which has been established to progress the National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People. This Programme is based on the recommendations of the Report of the National Reference Group on Multidisciplinary Services for Children aged 5-18 Years produced by representatives of the professions and management involved in delivering multi-disciplinary services to children. The long term goal of this Programme is to bring consistency in service delivery and a clear pathway to services for all children with disabilities according to need.