Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
158. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Youth for an update on her work on the Programme for Government commitment to “improve supports for students with special educational needs who are transitioning to new stages of school. [70471/25]
View answerI want to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue.
In addition to the Programme for Government commitment you refer to, Under Action 2.1 in the First Programme Plan of Actions 2025-2026 - National Human Rights Strategy for Disabled People 2025-2030 there is a commitment to establish a national policy on transitions.
Work has already commenced on this commitment and I wish to advise that my Department is a co-chair of the recently established inter departmental steering group to establish this policy. A key objective of this group will be to scope the extent of existing measures in place to support effective transitions.
In addition to this work, my Department is currently supporting two transition pilot programmes. Both are subject to external evaluation. Learnings and best practice from these pilots will provide valuable information to the steering group on future policy development.
