Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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526. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when her Department will advertise the vacancies created by retirements in the visiting teacher service for deaf, blind and visually impaired children; the reason for the delay in advertising these posts given that the positions have been vacant for over a month; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25951/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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On 10th February 2015, the establishment of a new Inclusion Support Service within the National Council for Special Education was announced to assist schools in supporting children with special education needs.

The service will include the Special Education Support Service (SESS), the National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher Service for children who are deaf/hard of hearing and for children who are blind/visually impaired (VTHVI service). This change will mean that schools will receive a better and more integrated service from this new Inclusion Support Service.

It is intended that the Inclusion Support Service will be operational from the beginning of the coming school year. It is also intended, however, that the existing services will continue as normal as the new arrangements are put in place, with as little disruption as possible to service users, as progress is made to transfer these services to the NCSE. Considerations with regard to the full staffing implications which may arise from the amalgamation of these bodies and the incorporation of the new Inclusion Support Service within the existing NCSE operational structures, are ongoing, and will be established during the course of the integration of the services. Consideration regarding new recruitments, and the filling of any vacancies will form part of this process. It is intended to ensure, however, that a fully comprehensive service will continue to be in place from the coming September, and for the new school year.