Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

235. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to consider introducing additional educational supports for learners with special educational needs within Youthreach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22076/26]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Youthreach programme provides a two-year model of education and training for young people who leave school with limited qualifications. Crucially, Youthreach is deliberately structured as an alternative to mainstream post-primary education, and this makes it particularly well-suited to learners with additional and special educational needs. Its flexible curriculum, enhanced staffing ratios and learner-centred teaching approaches allow programmes to be tailored to the individual circumstances of each learner.

The programme is specifically designed to respond to social, emotional, mental-health and educational challenges, creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment. Evidence consistently shows strong outcomes, not only in certification, but also in confidence, resilience, and personal and social development. At the heart of Youthreach is a learner-centred ethos, which ensures that each young person’s learning profile, strengths and support needs are recognised and addressed. This approach is of particular value to learners with special educational needs.

This focus is further strengthened through the Special Educational Needs Initiative, introduced in 2007 for centres with a high prevalence of learners with additional needs. Nineteen centres currently participate, each receiving a dedicated annual allocation of €52,000.

This funding supports additional staffing, specialist training, mentoring, needs assessment, targeted interventions and, where appropriate, inter-agency collaboration, ensuring centres have the capacity to respond effectively to complex needs.

I remain committed to ensuring that learners across the further education system are provided with the supports they need to reach their full potential.