Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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451. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the Special Education Forum; the number of meetings the forum has had to date; the dates of same; her plans to publish the minutes of the forum’s meetings; the membership of the forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24421/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Consultative Forum for Special Education provides an opportunity for a broad range of parents of children with special educational needs to contribute to the on-going reform and development of special education policy and provision, and, raise concerns in this regard.

The forum covers the special education provision for children of school going age attending recognised primary, special and post primary schools.

The aims and objectives of the Consultative forum are to;

- Be a forum for the sharing and communication of authoritative information on new developments and policy matters relevant to special education

- Provide an opportunity for discussion and input on education policy development for school going children

- Provide a forum where issues of concern can be raised, discussed and proposals and solutions formulated where appropriate

- Develop and strengthen connections between statutory and other agencies providing education supports and advice for children with special educational needs and their families

- Provide information, advice and input that supports the provision of education supports for children with special educational needs.

- Be a reference point for the raising of issues or seeking clarification on aspects of special education policy and provision

The initial membership of the forum comprises parent representatives from groups including AsIAm, Inclusion Ireland, Down Syndrome Ireland, Family Carer’s Ireland and Open Special Schools and Classes.

The NPC are responsible for facilitating the inclusion of a broader parental voice on an ongoing basis.

The forum has met twice since its inception, December 2021 and March 2022. The forum meets once per school term or more often if required. The publishing of the minutes is not encompassed within the group’s Terms of Reference however, the minutes are distributed after each meeting to the members. In planning the agenda, members are invited to submit agenda items and it is open to Forum members to collaborate and prioritise matters for consideration at each meeting.