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Dáil Debates & Questions
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September 24 2008 Dáil Debates Parliamentary Questions
DÁIL DEBATES Deputy Caoimhghín O’Caoláin (SF): In the context of staff vacancies, can the Taoiseach advise what is the employment policy regarding people with disabilities within the Department of the Taoiseach? Does that Department have a policy of affirmative action to ensure people with disabilities have a fair opportunity to compete and access vacancies as they present? I expect the Taoiseach will confirm his acknowledgement that people with disabilities are under-represented within the Civil Service and his acceptance that the Civil Service itself is in a unique position to take affirmative action measures to try to address such under-representation. While I am open to correction as there was a lot of background noise at the time, in his initial reply did the Taoiseach indicate there are three vacancies within his Department at present? What are the prospects of any of those positions within the Department of the Taoiseach being taken up by someone with a disability? Can the Taoiseach advise the House what affirmative action measures are currently in place within his Department and what further steps does he propose to take to address this extremely important and pressing imbalance? The Taoiseach (Brian Cowen TD): A census of staff serving in my Department as of 31 December 2007 was conducted in February of this year. Some 5% of the 79% who responded to the survey voluntarily disclosed a disability. My Department is an equal opportunities employer and staff are recruited solely on the basis of ability to fulfil specific roles. My Department exceeds the legislative requirement of employing a 3% level of people with disabilities in the public service and as I have stated, 5% of Department staff voluntarily disclosed disability. Staff are recruited through the Public Appointments Service on the basis that they meet the requirements of the positions they are to fill. The issue of disability does not affect assignment to my Department and no exceptions are made in that regard. Recruitment, promotion, training and other benefits or opportunities are decided on objective criteria, including the qualifications and suitability of the applicant. Our recruitment principles follow the Department of Finance code of practice for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service and the Commission for Public Service Appointments code of practice for employment of persons with disabilities to positions in the Civil Service and certain public bodies. Deputy Caoimhghín O’Caoláin: The Taoiseach’s reply invites a further question. He indicated that members of staff in the Taoiseach’s Department voluntarily disclosed a disability of one sort or another. My understanding — the Taoiseach may correct me if I am wrong — is there is a requirement on Departments across the board to meet the 3% level in terms of recruiting people with disabilities. If the disclosures were voluntary, was this factor relating to disability taken into account with regard to access to employment in the first place? This is a very important point which needs clarification as quotas are to be reached. These are currently inadequate and understate the present need. They should be increased to a 5% level — an argument I have made here before with the support of other voices currently in government. Will the Taoiseach outline the current vacancies in his Department as I may not have picked him up correctly in his initial reply because of noise in the Chamber? I understand three vacancies were signalled but if this is not the case will the Taoiseach please let us know? Is there any prospect with regard to current affirmative action measures that the positions will be filled by someone with a clear disability if there are any vacancies in the Department? We are talking about staff in the Taoiseach’s Department and the Civil Service across the board. What is the Taoiseach’s position on the contribution by the Minister of State, Deputy John McGuinness, in which he stated that the Civil Service is “a reactionary, inert mass at the centre of our economy” with too many square pegs in round holes throughout? The Taoiseach has not clarified to my satisfaction how he stands on that view, which must be a reflection on his Department also. Will the Taoiseach put on record how he stands on Deputy McGuinness’s utterances and convey his view of the standard of people employed within our Civil Service? The Taoiseach: I explained the various codes of practice employed within my Department and I have also indicated that based on a survey, we know approximately 5% of our employees meet the definition regarding disability. With regard to the specific query raised outside the ambit of this question on comments by the Minister of State, Deputy McGuinness, those were personal and do not reflect Government policy. PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS Deputy Michael Ring (FG): asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the plans she has to allow persons with disabilities to remain on FÁS schemes for unlimited periods; her further plans to facilitate persons with disabilities to remain on the schemes indefinitely in view of the fact that many of these people find it almost impossible to secure employment; Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): Community Employment (CE) is an active labour market programme designed to provide eligible long-term unemployed people and other disadvantaged persons (including those with a disability) with an opportunity to engage in useful work within their communities on a fixed term basis. CE helps unemployed people to re-enter the active workforce by breaking their experience of unemployment through a return to a work routine and to assist them to enhance/develop both their technical and personal skills. In July 2006 my Department published its Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act, 2005. One of the key highlights of this Plan was the increased participation rates of people with disabilities on CE over the period of the Plan and the raised CE participation limits for people with disabilities in order to provide additional training to assist progression to employment:
The aim of CE still remains as an active labour market programme with the emphasis on progression into employment. The programme is managed within this context, with consideration to the availability of resources and the needs of participants and the community. FÁS makes every effort to ensure that differing levels of demand between neighbouring schemes are equalised. FÁS also operates the programme flexibly as far as possible to ensure the continuation of community projects. In conclusion then, I would say that this Government will continue to support the positive role of CE in meeting the needs of long-term unemployed persons while at the same time providing essential services to communities. In this regard, we are keeping the operation of the Scheme under constant review. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her plans to establish a FÁS scheme for persons with disabilities; the long term schemes available for persons with disabilities; Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Deputy Mary Coughlan): As part of Government policy on mainstreaming all FÁS Services are open to people with disabilities. In this regard the services and programmes in place may be summarised as follows: Main Services provided by FÁS:FÁS operates training and employment programmes; provides a recruitment service to jobseekers and employers; an advisory service for industry; and supports community based enterprises. Services for people with disabilities are mainstreamed within this context. Programmes for people with disabilities are ‘demand–led’ in that take up of same is voluntary, and there is no element of penalty involved for those who do not wish to engage, for whatever reason. People with disabilities may call into a FÁS Employment Services Office or Local Employment Service Office to meet with an Employment Services Officer or Mediator who will provide them with full information, advice and guidance in relation to training and employment. People with disabilities, who meet the entry criteria, are able to participate in the full range of FÁS programmes and services, including mainline training provision. For example, there are currently 5,942 participants, or 28 % of total participants, with disabilities on Community Employment. FÁS also provides a range of positive action measures to assist the entry into employment of people with disabilities. These include: Specialist Training Providers FÁS contracts with 20 specialist training providers, such as the National Learning Network, in 55 centres to deliver vocational training to people with disabilities who require more intensive support than would be available in the mainline options. This training is provided exclusively to people with disabilities within a segregated setting. A budget of €54.95m is being provided to specialist training provision in 2008. Supported Employment Programme The Supported Employment Programme is an open labour market initiative providing people with disabilities, who are ‘job-ready’, with supports to help them access the open labour market. It is implemented by sponsor organisations, on behalf of FÁS, which employ Job Coaches to provide a range of supports tailored to the individual needs of a jobseeker. A review of the programme has recently been carried out and a FÁS Action Plan on foot of reforms recommended in the review is nearing completion. A budget of €8.8m is being provided to the programme in 2008. Wage Subsidy Scheme The Wage Subsidy Scheme provides financial incentives to employers, outside the public sector, to employ people with disabilities who work more than 20 hours per week. The scheme provides payment of a wage subsidy to the employer to compensate for the reduced productivity of the disabled worker. The scheme is designed to provide incentive to employers to look more closely at the potential of people with disabilities to meet their labour force requirements. A review of this scheme has also been carried out and a response to the review recommendations is currently under consideration. For 2008, a budget of €10.5m is being provided to the scheme. Employee Retention Grant Scheme The Employee Retention Grant Scheme is available to private sector employers when an employee acquires a disability whether occupational or not. It provides funding to identify accommodation or training to enable the employee to remain in their current position, or to re-train them to take up another position within the organisation. Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant The Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant is available to employers in the private sector who need to adapt equipment or the workplace to accommodate people with disabilities. The maximum grant provided is €6,350 and covers minor building modifications such as ramps or accessible toilets; assistive technology; amplifiers for telephones, etc. Job Interview/Induction Interpreter Grant The Job Interview/Induction Interpreter Grant is available to cover the costs of an interpreter up to a maximum of €106.68 for a three-hour period for interview and induction purposes, where an interviewee or new staff member is deaf, hard of hearing, or has a speech impediment. Personal Reader Grant The Personal Reader Grant is available for the blind or visually impaired who require assistance with job-related reading, this is a grant to permit the employment of a personal reader. FÁS will pay a fee per hour for this service, in line with the national minimum wage for a maximum of 640 hours per annum.Disability Awareness Training Support Scheme The Disability Awareness Training Support Scheme assists the integration of people with disabilities into the workplace and helps to eliminate mistaken perceptions about them. It is available to all companies in the private sector who are interested in employing, retaining or relating to people with disabilities. Funding of up to 90% of training costs is available in the first year, and up to 80% of costs in subsequent years, with an annual limit of €20,000 payable to an organisation. To avail of this funding training must be carried out by a FÁS approved training organisation or trainer. The combined budget in 2008 for the Employee Retention Grant Scheme, Workplace Equipment Adaptation Grant, Job Interview Interpreter Grant, Personal Reader Grant and Disability Awareness Training Support Scheme amounts to €2.1 million. This gives a total budget of € 76.350 million for disability-specific programmes. FÁS schemes and programmes are monitored and kept under regular review as part of overall employment and training policy for people with disabilities under the Sectoral Plan of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. Deputy Seán Barrett (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children her views on the release speech and language and communication system which has attained wide acceptance in Ireland since 2005 and is affiliated with leading US universities and speech and language organisations; if she has examined its potential to address and eliminate lengthy waiting lists for intervention at minimal cost; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): My Department understands that Release, which was established in Ireland in 2005, is a private, profit making organisation which advertises a holistic approach to communication intervention, incorporating speech and language therapy, early intervention and oral motor therapy to help children combat communication difficulties. As the Deputy is aware, in Ireland, people with, or parents of children with, speech and language disorder can choose to take a private or public route to attain services. The Department of Health and Children and the HSE aim to provide access to services that are of high quality, oriented towards optimal outcome and are sustainable in the long term. It is considered that these objectives can best be met, in many instances, through the use of multi-disciplinary teams working closely and holistically, in a person centred way, under a HSE governance structure. The Primary Care Strategy, the Disability Act, 2005 and the HSE Transformation Agenda emphasise the need for team working to achieve maximum outcome. Furthermore, when a person requires intervention from only one profession, best practice would suggest that, in most instances, those professions will be part of the organisation to ensure proper governance. As the Deputy is aware the HSE has autonomy to decide on the most effective way of delivering services which may include the use of external agencies when deemed appropriate. The Deputy’s question also relates to the management and delivery of health and personal services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this case investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. Deputy Denis Naughten (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children her plans to provide additional funding for the intellectual disability services in the Ballinasloe area following the visit by her Minister for State; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): As the Deputy is aware the question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal services, which includes funding for the intellectual disability services in the Ballinasloe area, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this case investigated and have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. A copy of the note of the meeting, referred to by the Deputy, has been forwarded directly to him. Deputy Emmet Stagg (L): asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of children and adults awaiting assessment for occupational therapy in County Kildare. Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The Deputy’s question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, including occupational therapy for people with a disability as defined in the Disability Act 2005, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children further to ParliamentaryQuestion No. 463 of 26 September 2007, if the strategic review of the Health Service Executive funded adult day services for people with disabilities has been completed by the HSE National Review Group; when this report will be published; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): TheDeputy’s question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children the way in which the disability unit of the Office of Disability and Mental Health is working to improve sheltered work and training opportunities for people with disabilities; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): In January 2008, the Government announced the establishment of the Office for Disability and Mental Health to support the Minister for Disability & Mental Health in exercising his responsibilities across four Government Departments: Health & Children, Education & Science, Enterprise, Trade & Employment and Justice, Equality & Law Reform. A core function of the Office is to promote and develop an integrated, systematic approach to the implementation of government policy and initiatives in relation to services for people with disabilities and mental health difficulties. One of the key priorities is to develop an appropriate continuum of training and employment support services for people with disabilities by working together with the Dept. of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, FÁS and the HSE. Very substantial progress has been made in recent years in the areas of disability and mental health, but much remains to be done. To this end the Office is supporting a joint HSE/FÁS initiative to support people with disabilities while transitioning from rehabilitative training to vocational training and/or employment. Likewise, the office is concerned to ensure that services that are provided to people with disabilities are consistent with their need and are delivered in integrated mainstream settings, where appropriate. To this end the Office is currently working with the HSE to carry out a comprehensive review of all adult day services. A key desired outcome of this is that people with disabilities who participate in, or who are capable of participating in employment, do so in a manner which is consistent with the mainstream policy and legislative provision. Deputy Seán Sherlock (L): asked the Minister for Health and Children her policy regarding the provision of personal assistants as recommended in the commission on the status of people with a disability; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): Under the Health Act 2004 the Health Service Executive (HSE) has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services. This includes responsibility for personal assistants. The Government has fulfilled its promise in relation to the 2008 element of the Multi-Annual Investment Programme 2006-2009 by allocating additional funding of €50m to the HSE in the 2008 Budget. While the commencement of some services had been delayed this year due to a financial review, the HSE is now in a position to roll-out the planned disability developments as outlined in its 2008 Service Plan. This includes 200,000 additional personal assistant/home support hours. Deputy James Bannon (FG): asked the Minister for Health and Children if the transport of those with disabilities who are over the age of 18 years to training centres falls within the remit of her Department and the Health Service Executive, as home-to-centre transport is essential for such school leavers, who need secure transport to access training facilities; Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Deputy John Moloney): The Deputy’s question relates to the management and delivery of health and personal services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this case investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. Deputy James Bannon (L): asked the Minister for Transport if transport for those with disabilities who are over the age of 18 years to training centres falls within the remit of his Department, in view of the fact that home-to-centre transport is essential for such school leavers, who need secure transport to access training facilities; Minister for Transport (Deputy Noel Dempsey): My Department’s responsibility for, and policy on access to transport for people with disabilities, is set out in Transport Access for All, my Department’s Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005. In accordance with Section 34 of the Act, the sectoral plan deals with passenger transport services for the general public. Deputy Seán Barrett (FG): asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities which was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2006, and came into force on 3 May 2008; Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): It is the Government’s intention to ratify the UN Convention will be ratified by Ireland as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to ensure that all necessary requirements under the Convention are being met. Ireland was in the first group of countries to sign, subject to ratification, the Convention when it opened for signature on 30 March 2007. An Inter-Departmental Committee has been established to advise on and monitor the actions required to enable the State to ratify the Convention. The committee has developed a work programme that is being actively addressed by Government Departments. In so far as my own Department is concerned, there is a need to reform the law on legal capacity of vulnerable adults. Accordingly, the Government has recently approved the details of my proposal for a Mental Capacity Bill. The ‘heads’ of the Bill have been published on my Department’s website for consultation. That Bill is an important element of the programme of work on the Convention. Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform further to Question No. 137 of 28 May 2008, if the strategic document which outlines the vision, mission and objectives of the National Disability Strategy has been completed; when same will be published as per the commitment in Towards 2016; Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Deputy Dermot Ahern): I refer to my reply to Question No. 137 of 28 May 2008, in which I indicated that the Social Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, contains a commitment to publish a strategic document on the National Disability Strategy which will outline the vision, mission and strategic objectives under the Strategy. The draft document has been prepared by my Department and forwarded to all of the relevant partners. It is due to be finalised later in the year and will be published as soon as possible after that. Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if work has been completed on the National Carers Strategy; when he will publish same; Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Deputy Mary Hanafin): The development of a National Carers’ Strategy is a key Government commitment in both the national partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and the Agreed Programme for Government. A working group, chaired by the Department of An Taoiseach, is working on developing the strategy. My Department provides the secretariat to the working group which also includes representatives of the Departments of Finance, Health and Children and Enterprise, Trade and Employment as well as FÁS and the Health Service Executive. Developing the strategy involves consultation with other government departments and bodies not represented on the working group. The Department has met with a wide range of organisations including the Equality Authority, Combat Poverty Agency, Citizen’s Information Board, the National Council on Ageing and Older People, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the National Disability Authority. A request for submissions from the public was published in regional newspapers in early March. The closing date for submissions was Friday 18 April 2008. There was a good response from individuals and organisations and the submissions received are being examined. Towards 2016 commits the Department to hosting an annual consultation meeting of carer representative groups and relevant departments and agencies. Such a meeting was held on 23 January 2008. Representatives of 12 groups and 9 government departments and bodies attended. The theme was the National Carers’ Strategy and groups were given an opportunity to comment on the draft terms of reference and to raise other issues considered relevant in the context of the strategy. I was very pleased to launch the report Listening to Carers: Report on a Nationwide Carer Consultation, produced by the Carers Association in partnership with Caring for Carers Ireland and Care Alliance on 30th of June this year. The issues raised in this report are currently being considered as part of the development of the strategy. In addition to the correspondence I have received from the Carers Association direct. The issues raised in this report are currently being considered as part of the development of the strategy. In addition to the correspondence I have received from the Carers Association directly, I have also received representations from a number of colleagues on behalf of the organisation. The commitment to the development of a National Carers’ Strategy also includes a commitment to appropriate consultation with the social partners. An update in relation to the strategy was provided to the social partners plenary session in February. The first of two consultation meetings with the social partners was held on 8 May 2008. Key issues raised were recognition for carers and their work, access to suitable health services, income support, training, gender issues and balancing employment and care. It is intended to publish the strategy later this year. Deputy Denis Naughten (FG): asked the Minister for Education and Science further toParliamentary Question No. 390 of 27 May 2008, if the behavioural specialist support team led by a person with a PhD in Applied Behaviour Analysis has been put in place and is available to support teachers; Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): My Department is currently in the process of recruiting specialist behaviour advisors to form part of a Behavioural Specialist Support Team. Following a recent competition, the Special Education Support Service (SESS) is working to recruit a number of candidates. While this process is ongoing the person that will lead this team is working with the SESS in an advisory capacity and in addition to providing in-school support has also provided access to programmes of Continuing Professional Development covering the area of Applied Behaviour Analysis. The following courses have been provided on two occasions and will be provided again in the current academic year:• Contemporary Applied Behaviour Analysis (10-week course)• Applied Behaviour Analysis (2-day).Once the remaining members of the team are in place it will continue to consolidate teachers’ knowledge and skills in the application of behavioural principles to learning.The Deputy may also be interested to note that the SESS is providing a wide range of supports and interventions in the area of Autism via on-line training, face-to-face training, phone advice and individualised support for school’s identified continuing professional development needs. The approaches include Language and Communication, Managing Inclusion, Curriculum Access for Pupils with General Learning Disabilities and Autism, Sensory Integration, PECS, TEACCH, Social Stories, and Applied Behaviour Analysis. Deputy Jack Wall (L): asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants employed in County Kildare; the funding provided for such assistants; the plans he has to increase the number of assistants; Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): There are currently 414 Special Needs Assistants (whole-time equivalents) employed in schools in County Kildare. Three hundred and fifty four are serving in Primary schools and sixty in Post Primary schools. The National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools and for reviewing such allocations. Special Needs Assistants are intended to support children who have care needs arising from a disability. The nature and level of support provided is based on the assessed needs of the individual child having regard to the criteria set out in my Department’s circulars. Special Needs Assistants in primary, voluntary secondary, community and comprehensive schools are employed by the individual school authority and paid centrally on my Department’s payroll. In the case of VEC schools, the Special Needs Assistants are employed and paid directly by the VEC concerned. A common salary scale applies across all sectors. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science further toParliamentary Question No. 664 of 8 July 2008, the progress made between officials in his Department and groups representing centres participating in ABA pilot schemes; Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The Deputy will be aware of the Programme for Government commitment to the long-term funding for the centres that are currently in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable them to be supported as primary schools for children with autism. The Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment while the discussions are ongoing between officials in my Department and groups representing the centres. Deputy Brian Hayes (FG): asked the Minister for Education and Science the percentage of students within the primary education system that obtain extra support or remedial support, either in a mainstream class or away from the mainstream class, to deal with specific issues that may arise regarding language, learning difficulties and so on; Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): The Deputy will be aware of my Department’s commitment to ensuring that all children including those with special needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum with the option, in line with each child’s ability, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils. The Deputy will also be aware that my Department implemented a new scheme for allocating learning support/resource teachers to schools to cater for the needs of children with high incidence special educational needs in all primary schools in September 2005. The general allocation model was designed to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special needs. It is a matter for school authorities to determine how these hours are utilised to support eligible pupils. My Department does therefore not hold details of the percentage of students being supported through this mechanism. However, it can be assumed generally that pupils who perform at or below the 10th percentile on a standardised test of reading and/or mathematics would qualify for such support. Pupils with more significant needs may qualify for additional teaching and special needs assistant support through the National Council for Special Education. All schools in Ireland with migrant children for whom English is a second language are entitled to specific resources, irrespective of geographic location. Schools with high numbers of immigrant children for whom English is not their first language are given special supports by way of additional teaching staff and teaching materials. Since summer 2007, the level of additional teacher support allocated to primary and post-primary schools is determined by the number of pupils enrolled for whom English is a second language and the associated assessed levels of pupils’ language proficiency. Schools with less than 14 pupils will have their needs addressed through the provision of financial resources, again based on the number of pupils. The resources available are set out in circular 53/2007 and can be accessed on my Department’s website www.education.ie. There are now over 1,500 language support teachers at primary level providing support to approximately 21,000 pupils. Deputy Caoimhghin O’Caoláin (SF): asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of special needs assistants employed in primary and secondary schools in County Monaghan in September 2008; the corresponding figure for September 2007; Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): There are currently 94 special needs assistants (whole-time equivalents) employed in schools in County Monaghan. Sixty four are employed in Primary and thirty are employed in Post Primary schools. There were ninety two special needs assistants employed in Primary and Post Primary schools during the 2007/2008 school year. Deputy Michael Ring (FG): asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will address the cutbacks in special needs assistants for special needs children; Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): I wish to advise the Deputy that there have been no cutbacks in the provision of special needs assistants to support children with special needs. In fact, there are now 19,000 staff in our schools working solely with children with special needs. This includes over 10,000 SNAs — compared with just 300 in 1997. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special needs. Applications for SNAs may be considered by the NCSE where a pupil has a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where their behaviour is such that they are a danger to themselves or to other pupils. For some pupils, as they mature, their care needs may diminish over time. In such circumstances, the NCSE will review and adjust the overall level of SNA support in the school concerned. This may mean that some pupils who had previously been supported by a full time SNA may have their needs met through the shared support of an SNA or perhaps they may have no need for SNA support. The NCSE operates within my Department’s criteria in allocating such support. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child’s special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie. Deputy David Stanton (FG): asked the Minister for Education and Science further toParliamentary Question No. 47 of 3 July 2008, if he is in a position to implement the remaining sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 in particular the provisions in relation to individual education plans and assessments; if he has set deadlines for the implementation of same; Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe): As the Deputy is aware, a number of sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act, 2004 have been commenced. Following discussions with the Education partners, my Department developed proposals to facilitate implementation of the remaining sections, including the provisions in respect of assessment and individual education plans (IEPs). These proposals are being considered in the context of the 2009 estimates process. The Deputy may wish to note that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has published guidelines on the IEP process, and a copy issued to all primary and post-primary schools at the commencement of the 2006/2007 school year. These guidelines provide advice and assistance to schools, teachers and parents on devising and implementing individual education plans. It is intended that schools will use these guidelines to develop school practices and procedures in relation to individual education plans, in advance of the mandatory requirement for them to do so. I remain committed to the provision of resources for students with special educational needs and my Department continues to expand capacity and services for these students across the schools network through the work of the National Council for Special Education. |
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Inclusion
Ireland, Unit C2, The Steelworks, Foley Street, Dublin 1, Ireland.
Tel: 01 8559891 Fax: 01 8559904 Email: info@inclusionireland.ie |