Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 June 2026
73. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Education and Youth the specific measures that are being taken to ensure that adequate educational, medical, therapeutic, and disability supports are provided for children with complex needs upon their admission to primary schools (details supplied). [45993/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis government is fully committed to supporting students with special educational needs to fulfil their full potential and the Programme for Government makes a number of commitments to deliver on this objective.
It is my department’s policy, in accordance with the principles of inclusive education, that students with additional learning needs are supported in mainstream classes along with their peers, with additional supports provided as necessary.
The department provides for a range of placement options and supports for schools and students with special educational needs in order to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled, they will have access to an education that meets their needs.
The functions of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) include planning and coordinating the provision of education and support services to children and young people with special educational needs in conjunction with schools and the Health Service Executive (HSE).
The NCSE, through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports as required. The NCSE is aware of emerging need from year to year and where special provision is required it is planned and established to meet that need.
As your query refers to an individual placement, I will arrange to have it referred to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
The allocation of special education teachers allows schools to provide additional teaching support for all students who require such support in their schools and for schools to deploy resources based on each student’s individual learning needs.
In addition, special needs assistants play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools ensuring that these students can access an education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.
The NCSE provides support for teachers with additional training needs in the area of special education, through the NCSE support service which manages, co-ordinates and develops a range of supports in response to identified teacher training needs.
When allocating resources schools take into account the learning needs of students as evidenced by performance in schools but also supported where relevant by information provided regarding the nature of a condition that a student may have. Specific interventions are therefore tailored, by the school, to the individual’s needs, rather than being generic to a specific difficulty, disability or condition.
Another significant recent initiative of this government is the Education Therapy Service. This new service which will be delivered by the NCSE building on its work previously completed through the School Inclusion Model (SIM) Educational Therapy Support Service (ETSS). It will ensure that students with the greatest level of need will receive the greatest level of support, through universal, targeted and individualised interventions provided by therapists in schools. Work is ongoing on the establishment of this service.
The provision of health-related supports, including speech and language therapy services, is the responsibility of the HSE, and matters in relation to the provision of health-related services should therefore be directed to that body or to 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 reach their full potential.
