Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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438. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of special schools that have received the first day of CPI training, to date in 2025, in accordance with the ‘Understanding Behaviours of Concern and Responding to Crisis Situations’ guidelines published by the Department of Education in December 2024; the number of special schools that have, received the second day of CPI training, to date in 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38666/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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439. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the rationale for the removal of the ‘direct training model’ delivered by CPI to a ‘train the trainers’ model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38667/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 438 and 439 together.

Aligned to the publication of the Department of Education Understanding Behaviours of Concern and Responding to Crisis Situations guidelines, a training programme is provided to schools consisting of three elements (Circular 0081/2024). The NCSE provides a comprehensive programme of teacher professional learning to all special schools. In addition, the NCSE provides procured external Behaviours of Concern training – “Training for a Few Schools” which is bespoke to the Department of Education guidelines. This specialist training is fully funded by the Department of Education and is procured and contracted by the NCSE in line with EU and national legislation governing public procurement in Ireland.

CPI (Crisis Prevention Institute) are currently contracted by the NCSE to provide Behaviours of Concern “Training for a Few Schools”. CPI are contracted to provide training through a direct delivery approach or through a train the trainer approach. The train the trainer approach provides a certified tutor on staff and is the highest level of training which supports de-escalation and redirection as best practice. CPI training, fully funded, has been available to all special schools during the 2024/25 academic year. Under the current contract, CPI will deliver the remaining train the trainer events in August and October. All special schools who have sought CPI training are offered this highest level of training in August or October.

To date 62 Special Schools have received Day 1 Verbal Intervention Direct Delivery, 18 have received Day 2 Safety Intervention Direct Delivery and 20 have availed of train the trainer training.

The NCSE has launched a RfT (Request for Tender) for the provision of the design and delivery of a comprehensive training programme on Understanding Behaviours of Concern and Responding to Crisis Situations for delivery to schools and special classes. In the 2025/26 academic year and following on from current contract, schools will continue to avail of specialist “Training for a Few Schools”, with its purpose to ultimately eliminate the use of restraint in Irish schools as per the Restraint Reduction Network and BILD guidelines.