Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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282. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the transition for children with a disability before they become adults (details supplied). [35295/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Transitions at all stages and levels including starting school; the move from primary to post-primary school; moving between mainstream and special school settings and preparation for life after school can be a difficult time for all parents and students, including those with special educational needs.

My Department has committed itself to a range of actions aimed at supporting effective transition from school to further or higher education and adult disability services, in order to ensure that students with disabilities can be supported to plan for their futures. This requires information on the options and supports, as well as ensuring all actors including schools, families, other Government Departments and Agencies work together to ensure the needs of pupils can be reasonably met.

The interdepartmental Cross-Sectoral Team, which is comprises of representatives of my Department, National Educational Psychological Service, Department of Health, Department of Children and Youth Affairs, the National Council for Special Education and the Health Service Executive works to support and plan for the co-ordinated delivery of services to families of children with special educational needs across the disability sector. The issue of transitions has been discussed by the Cross Sectoral Working group and is an item on the agenda for its next meeting which is scheduled for September.

The Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities sets out a ten-year approach to ensuring that people with disabilities, who are able to, and want to work are supported and enabled to do so.

My Department, together with the NCSE, SOLAS, Education and Training Boards (ETBs), HSE, Department of Social Protection among others have key roles to play in delivering on various actions to enable achievement of key strategic priorities, including transition from school to further or higher education and adult disability services.

Good progress has been made across a number of areas. My Department provides for a continuum of special education provision to be made available for children with special needs, so that regardless of the level of need of the child, educational provision can be made for them.

In 2017, €1.68 billion - approximately 19% of the Department of Education and Skills budget is being allocated to supporting children with special educational needs.

In general, the funding allocated by the Department provides for mainstream classroom supports, resource and learning support teachers, SNAs, additional special class support, assistive technology and individual supports depending on the various needs of students at different levels of the education cycle. It also provides funding for school buildings to ensure accommodations for students and teachers at the school and classroom level as well as enhanced capitation levels for students in special schools and classes, specialist transport arrangements, Special Arrangements for State Examinations; ESF Aided Fund for Students with Disabilities at 3rd level; Vocational Training for people with disabilities and in Adult Education – once off projects for disability in education.

Preparation and planning are key to a successful transition from school. In January 2016 the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published transition guidelines for children with special needs. These wide-ranging and comprehensive guidelines provide advice and tips for parents, students and schools covering the transitions between all stages of education, including the transition to further education or work - Guidelines on Planning for Life after School.

The NCSE in association with the National Disability Authority (NDA) has also published an information booklet about the full range of post-school education and training options for adults and school leavers with disabilities. The NCSE booklet contains summary information on all of the main programmes and supports available to students with disabilities. It also provides convenient links and signposts to where more information and guidance on these programmes can be found.

The Department of Health and Children/Health Service Executive assumes direct responsibility for young adults with special educational needs who are over 18 years. My Department may allocate funding towards an education component of such provision.

 A key feature of the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education (2015-2019) is the inclusion of targets to increase participation in higher education by people with disabilities.

The Fund for Students with Disabilities also plays a key role in helping to build the skill and education levels of people with disabilities. The Fund, which is managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills, provides supports for full time students with disabilities to help them access and complete courses in our further and higher education institutions.

In addition, my Department has a number of strategies and initiatives in place to build links between education providers and employers so as to ensure that education and training for all learners, including people with disabilities, is aligned to the skill requirements of the workplace. This includes the new National Skills Strategy 2025, which was launched in January 2016. The strategy provides a framework for skills development that will help drive Ireland's growth both economically and societally over the next decade.