John Clendennen
Ceist:251. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Education and Youth whether she is aware of the BUSS model (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27620/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 15 April 2026
Ceisteanna (251)
Freagraí scríofa
Enabling students with special educational needs to receive an education that meets their needs is a priority for this Government. It is also a key priority for me, my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers. Where students with more complex needs require additional supports, special class and special school places are provided. This is in keeping with policy on an inclusive education, which advocates that students will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible.
The Education Therapy Service (ETS) is a standalone commitment under the Programme for Government and represents a major cross departmental initiative to strengthen supports for children with special educational needs. The new therapy service announced in June 2025 will be delivered by the NCSE. The ETS will see therapy supports provided in special schools on a phased basis, starting in 45 special schools in the 2025/2026 school year. It is important to highlight that this is the initial phase and a wider roll-out to further special schools will take place within the 2026/2027 school year. This new initiative will see all schools benefit in the coming years, as it is rolled out in time, to mainstream schools.
The ETS will see Occupational and Speech and Language Therapists employ a multi-tiered model of support which includes supports at a universal, targeted and individualised level. The ETS is an additional support for children with special education needs. It is to supplement and not replace existing children’s health and disability services, and it is intended that it will work in a complementary manner to strength overall provision.
In addition to the ETS, the NCSE has developed an education-based therapy support service known as the Educational Therapy Support Service (ETSS). The ETSS was established in June 2024 within the NCSE and initially comprised 39 therapists, providing 2 strands of support, Regional Therapy and Sustained In-School Therapy to both mainstream and special schools.
Sustained in-school support (SIT) is provided to schools for a defined period of 18-24 months in line with the School Inclusion Model. 22 schools in the Eastern region and 28 schools in the Western Region are currently availing of this service.
Regional therapy support provides Teacher Professional Learning (TPL) with follow on/implementation support by NCSE therapists. The focus of this support is to build the capacity of schools and to embed the learning from TPL into their teaching practice, through In-school coaching and co-facilitation of interventions, strategies and resources, with a focus on whole school (Tier 1) and targeted/school support levels (Tier 2) of a multi-tiered system of support. Regional Therapy seminars are available nationally for the 2025/2026 school year.
It is important to recognise that teachers use a number of specialist programmes to support students with special educational needs. At all times, the focus of the department and the NCSE is on doing what is right for the child and underpinning any educational interventions with evidence-based approaches. For that reason, the department does not promote one particular approach for meeting the needs of children with special educational needs and recognises that children with dyslexia or literacy difficulties may benefit most where a range of teaching approaches is employed by the class teachers.
The provision of therapy supports for children with disabilities and the Children's Disability Network Team (CDNT) service is the responsibility of the Department of Children, Disability, and Equality, and the Health Service Executive (HSE), any queries in this regard should be addressed directly to that department and the HSE. Queries relating to primary care and mental health therapy services is the responsibility of the Department of Health.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to achieve their full potential.