Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the commitments in the programme for Government to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. [29820/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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As committed to in the Programme for a Partnership Government, I am examining the adequacy of the present policies and provision in relation to people with disabilities, and their scope for improvement .

In doing so, I will take into account the recommendations contained in the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) policy advice papers.

The Programme for a Partnership Government commits that we will invest additional resources in the National Educational Psychological Service to ensure earlier intervention and access for young children and teenagers and to offer immediate support to schools in cases of critical incidents. The Programme commits to bring the total number of NEPS psychologists to 238 from the current sanctioned limit of 173. A recruitment process is currently underway to bring the numbers of NEPS Psychologists to currently approved numbers.

The Programme also includes a commitment to introduce a new in-school Speech and Language Therapy service, creating stronger linkages between parents, teachers and Speech and Language Therapists. The programme also commits to bring the number of Speech and Language Therapists up to 1,102 (a 25% increase).

As Speech and Language Therapists are currently employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE), officials at my Department are currently engaging with colleagues in the Department of Health and the HSE to review the existing level of Speech and language therapy provision and to conduct an audit of services nationally. The review of existing services will guide the implementation of the Programme for Government commitment.

In line with the recommendations of the Focussed Policy Assessment of the SNA Scheme in 2016, the Government decided to proceed with a comprehensive assessment of the SNA Scheme, currently being undertaken by the NCSE, in consultation with other Departments and State Agencies, including the National Disability Authority, to identify the most appropriate form of support options to provide better outcomes for students with Special Educational Needs, having regard to the significant amount of State investment in this area.

In response to a progress report from the NCSE on the comprehensive review, I have requested the National Council for Special Education to establish a working group, comprising relevant stakeholders, to assist in proposing an alternate and improved model for providing care supports so as to provide better outcomes for students with special educational needs who have additional care needs.

This Working Group will commence its work upon its appointment and the work will run in tandem with the completion of the Comprehensive Review of the SNA Scheme. It is intended that the reports of the Working group and of the Review will be completed early in 2018.

In addition, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) Policy Advice on Educational Provision for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders was published in July 2016. The NCSE consulted widely with parents, professionals and other stakeholders and interested parties while also conducting research. The Policy advice is available on the NCSEs website www.ncse.ie.

My Department has convened an Implementation Group with representatives of the NCSE, NEPS, the Inspectorate and external representatives to ensure that the Report’s recommendations are fully and appropriately considered and that a timetable for implementation is prepared. The work of the Implementation Group is ongoing.