Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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644.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans for the recruitment of therapists in special schools across the country, to ensure that all students at special schools have access to necessary therapies onsite; her engagement in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31433/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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The provision of clinical therapy supports to children, including speech and language therapy and occupational therapy, is the responsibility of the HSE, through Primary Care or Children’s Network Disability Teams (CDNT).

Through the Progressing Disability Services Oversight Group, chaired by my colleague, Minister Rabbitte, my Department is working with the Department of Health, DCEDIY and the HSE to develop and strengthen more coherent structures to enable children and young people to access therapeutic assessments and supports, including those who attend special schools.

Department officials have also been engaging with their counterparts in both the HSE and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth with a view to ensuring enhanced provision of HSE services to special schools. Furthermore, the Department of Education liaises with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the HSE in relation to workforce planning for therapy services.

You may be aware that I announced the establishment of the Educational Therapy Support Service (ETSS) towards the end of June. The overarching purpose of the ETSS will be to improve learning outcomes for students, ensure teachers are better equipped to support all students and reduce the demand for additional resources in schools including applications for additional SNAs, where appropriate.

Speech and Language and Occupational Therapists will work to build the capacity of teachers (and other school personnel as relevant) to provide as effectively as possible for the needs of students. This will mean that therapists will work in classrooms with teachers to provide, for example, language programmes which have been co-designed by teachers and speech and language therapists.

They will also work in partnership with school communities, NCSE colleagues and, where appropriate, NEPS and HSE professionals to promote the participation and inclusion of all students and particularly those with special education needs across all levels of a multi-tiered system of support, providing individualised/intensive educational support for students with the greatest level of need. The NCSE will maintain oversight of clinical governance and professional development requirements of all therapists.

The NCSE intends to be operationally ready to deliver therapy services in the Eastern and Western regions for the commencement of the school year in September, moving to full implementation of all posts by October 2024. In terms of practical steps, Limerick has been identified as the most suitable hub for the Western region and sourcing of suitable office accommodation has already commenced. The Western region includes Kerry, Clare, Limerick, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon. Dublin will be the hub for the Eastern region and includes the greater Dublin area.