David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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449. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the parent of a child with special educational needs can self-refer to the National Council for Special Education or with a special educational needs organiser in order to receive assistance with an education assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16623/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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A parent cannot self-refer their child to the NCSE for an education assessment.

The HSE under the Disability Act are responsible for the Assessment of Need process. The Assessment Officers within the HSE are charged with organising the assessment of need for the HSE. If a parent thinks their child has a disability they can apply for an Assessment of Need. The assessment will identify the child's health needs. The assessment will also identify what services are required to meet the child's health needs. It is the statutory duty of the Assessment Officer, taking cognisance of available clinical evidence, to make a determination as to whether or not a child meets the definition of disability contained in the Act. It is this decision which determines whether or not the child is entitled to the benefits of the Act’s provisions.

Within this process and under Section 8 (3) of the Disability Act, if an assessment officer is of opinion that there may be a need for an education service to be provided to an applicant, he or she shall, as soon as may be, request the NCSEin writing to nominate a person with appropriate expertise to assist in the carrying out of the education assessment.

A process has been agreed for timely contact and response to the HSE by the NCSE to these requests. It is through this process where an education assessment is carried out.

To apply for an assessment, an application should be made through the local Assessment Officer (www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/disability/disability-assessment/assessment-officers.html). Details regarding this process can be found on the HSE website: Disability Assessment - HSE.ie (www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/disability/disability-assessment/).