Minister Hanafin announces formal establishment of National Council for Special Education from 1st October 2005
- Published: 15 July 2007
The Council, which has already been established on an interim basis, is the body charged with ensuring that the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 will be given full effect.
Its specific duties include
- the dissemination to schools and parents of information relating to best practice for the education of children with disabilities;
- the co-ordination of special education in conjunction with schools and health boards;
- and planning for the integration of children with special needs in a mainstream setting.
The Council will monitor progress of students with special educational needs and review the resources needed in this area. It will have responsibility to conduct research in the area of special education and provide relevant advice and information to the Minister.
The Council will also review the provision made for adults with disabilities to avail of higher, adult and continuing education. The Council has already done much of the preliminary work involved in its start up such as locating premises and engaging staff, including over 70 special educational needs organisers.
The establishment Order for the Council was one of three Orders signed by the Minister today. The Minister also signed a commencement order bringing into force 36 sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act.
Amongst the sections commenced is a provision giving statutory force to the principle of inclusive education. The education of children with special educational needs with those who do not have such needs has long been Government policy. The Act recognises that policy and provides that a child with special needs will be educated in an inclusive setting unless this would not be in the best interests of the child or the effective provision of education for other children in the mainstream environment.
One of the first jobs of the Council will be to draw up an implementation report outlining the steps to be taken in order to fully implement the Act within a time period no longer than 5 years.
The final Order signed by the Minister sets the date for the establishment of the Special Education Appeals Board as 3 April 2006. The Appeals Board will hear appeals on matters affecting the education of a child with special needs. Setting 3 April next year as the date for its establishment will allow time for the appointment and training of members of the Appeals Board and give the Council time to prepare its implementation report which will provide a roadmap for the commencement of the remaining sections of the Act.
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