Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

90. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to progress the Down syndrome Equality of Access Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10053/14]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Government did not oppose the Private Members Down Syndrome (Equality of Access) Bill 2013, at Second Stage. This Bill has now been referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection.

The NCSE report on Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs recommended that under a proposed new allocation model, all children, including those with Down syndrome, should be allocated additional resources in line with their level of need, rather than by disability category.

The NCSE also recommended that, in the short-term, pupils with Down syndrome in the Mild General Learning Disability category should continue to be supported by schools' Learning Support allocation in the same way as other pupils with a Mild GLD.

The NCSE Working Group charged with developing proposals for the new allocation model will bring its report to me before the end of the spring and any changes to the current allocation model will be considered in the light of the recommendations of that Group.