Brian Stanley (Laois, Sinn Fein)
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66. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the importance of home school liaison officers in schools when children have special needs; and his plans for same. [41922/18]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware a key priority for this Government is ensuring that children with special educational needs are supported and given the opportunity to reach their full potential.

This Government has significantly increased investment in special education in recent years. Fundingfor special education provision in 2018 will amount to some €1.75 billion, up 43% since 2011 and equivalent to 18.7% of the gross overall current allocation for education and training. Budget 2019 announced the funding of 950 additional SNA posts and 372 teaching posts to cater for the growth in student population and additional special classes.

The Deputy will also be aware that the Home School Community Liaison (HSCL) Scheme is a school-based intervention provided to DEIS schools to address the needs of all pupils/families at risk of educational disadvantage through acknowledging and developing the role of the parent as prime educator. The role of the HSCL Coordinator is to work primarily with the salient adults in the child’s life, in order to empower them, so that they can better support their children to attend school, participate in education and develop positive attitudes to life-long learning. Central to the HSCL initiative, is the identification of educational needs and the provision of a tailored and proportionate response to those needs, through a range of interventions, which are evidence-based, focused and structured.

My Department has no plans at present to extend this Scheme beyond DEIS Schools.