Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2025
436. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Education and Youth to outline the funding available to schools for resources such as art therapy; if she will consider increasing supports for initiatives like this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32419/25]
View answerThe policy of the Department of Education is to allocate supports to recognised schools to cater for the needs of pupils with special educational needs in an educational context.
While the provision of clinical therapy supports to children is the responsibility of the HSE, it is this government’s ambition, and as outlined in the Programme for Government, to extend therapy supports, Occupational and Speech and Language therapy, within the education system, over time.
In general, schools supporting pupils with special educational needs can draw on a range of interventions, and it is a matter for schools to determine the approach or mix of approaches which they will use in each individual case.
The approach towards each child's education would be based on the individual educational needs of the child and would have regard to the child's individual education plan and supporting professional reports.
My department will continue to support schools through the provision of the necessary funding and capital investment to ensure all children are successful in accessing an education.
