Yesterday, we saw the announcement from the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, that the Government will replace the existing assessment of need process with a new system. However, I have deep concerns about the proposal announced to replace the requirement for a formal diagnosis when determining access to a special class or special school. As a former teacher, I cannot overstate the seriousness of this development. This proposal has profound implications for schools, teachers and the children and families who rely on appropriate, timely and specialist assessment. Replacing diagnostic criteria with an educational assessment places an unreasonable and unsafe burden on schools. To me, it seems that we will streamline the process of receiving therapies, but leave a massive void in how special classes and places will be assigned. The Minister, Deputy Foley, reiterated yesterday that people will no longer need an assessment of need to get a place in a special school or class, instead saying it is up to education to decide on how these places will be assigned. She outlined that some sort of special educational assessment will be established to get a school place for a child, saying it was her hope that the Department of education would have the new system in place for the September 2027 academic year. Who will carry out this new special educational assessment? Will it be teachers or SENOs? There is no point in the Government suggesting that more psychologists, clinicians or multidisciplinary teams will be required, because the Government has made that money available to hire for these roles, but the roles are not being filled. I also ask whether the Minister, Deputy Naughton, was aware of these changes yesterday, or was it a surprise to her? It was duly noted that there was no representative from the Department of education at this announcement yesterday. Teachers themselves will say that they are not the ones who should be in the position of determining an appropriate place for a child with additional needs. In reality, this leaves parents in a worse-off position. They will now be chasing two parallel pathways, one to get the therapies they need, and one to get the diagnosis and school place they need. Does the Taoiseach believe that this makes sense? Yesterday, 85% of the teachers surveyed reported moderate to high work-related burnout. Is the Government now placing this burden on them? Teachers cannot and should not be expected to take on duties that belong to psychologists, clinicians or multidisciplinary teams. This shift undermines the integrity of the entire assessment process and places schools in an impossible position. It also risks leaving families unsupported and pupils at genuine risk of not receiving the appropriate provision that they are entitled to. The proposal seems to be driven not by what is best for children, but by the inability of the health and disability sector to manage the assessment of need backlog. Who will carry out these educational assessments? How will the Department of education manage and resource this responsibility? Crucially, and I want an answer to this question, has the process of establishing this new special educational assessment begun within the Department of education?
Sentiment score: 0.04
The question was simple. Who will carry out these educational assessments? Will it be teachers? Will it be SENOs? Who will it be? John Boyle from the INTO said this morning that teachers were not consulted, briefed or even informed in advance of these proposals. It is grossly unfair that Government Departments are using vulnerable children as political footballs after failing to provide them with timely assessments and therapeutic supports. The question is fairly simple. Who will carry out these educational assessments that were announced yesterday? I never said that I was against what was announced yesterday.
Sentiment score: -0.08
I never said that. What I asked was who will carry out these educational assessments. That was quite clear. The Taoiseach did not answer that question.
Sentiment score: 0.11
The question is fundamentally clear. Will the Department of education have this programme established by October next year? Right now, to me, it seems that it will not. The Government cannot even answer as to who will carry out these educational assessments. That is the question I am asking. Will it be teachers? Will it be SENOs? Who will it be?
Sentiment score: 0.05
I did not, not once.
Sentiment score: 0.00
That is not true.
Sentiment score: -0.33
Who will do the assessments?
Sentiment score: 0.00