Gaeloideachas was delighted to have a meeting with Minister Moynihan, Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth responsible for special education and inclusion, and other officials from the Department in June. Here are some of the areas discussed during the meeting:

Provision

• appropriate provision within children’s local area to avoid the need for long travel distances
• lack of Irish-speaking staff to support children under the AIM scheme in naíonraí
• lack of autism classes at post-primary level

Exemptions from the study of Irish

Continuing Professional Development

• Lack of appropriate training/training for SEN assistants in the immersion setting

• Lack of modules/courses that focus on the unique requirements of immersion/Gaeltacht settings into account

• Lack of professionals competent in Irish who can deliver appropriate supports, therapy, etc. through Irish

• The need for an awareness-raising campaign among professionals

Resources

• the urgent need to adapt resources to the Irish-medium context and the unique needs of the children rather than simply translating them
• lack of programmes, interventions, guidelines, resources, assessments that take into account the needs of Irish-medium settings

Special Education/Learning Support Allocation

• Learning support required in English, Irish and Maths
• The need for language assistants outside the Gaeltacht
• Language assistants and supports for Irish and English as an additional language

The working language of autism classes

• Lack of guidelines
• The importance of using Irish in classes so that children and young people can participate fully in school life