There is, as one commentator noted, no mention of Jamie Sinnott in the Government's press release accompanying its new package for special education issued yesterday. But it is clear that the decision to press ahead with major reforms in the area is not unrelated to the political controversy which has accompanied the Supreme Court's decision. After its insensitive decision to pursue Ms Kathryn Sinnott through the courts, the Government is under pressure to deliver to the estimated 30,000 children in this State with special educational needs.
There is much that is good in the new package. The Minister for Education, Dr Woods, deserves credit for piloting such a progressive programme of measures through the Cabinet. But the devil may be in the detail. The real, practical difficulties in delivering adequate services on the ground will have to be resolved. More critically, the new legislation which Dr Woods is promising for the autumn must provide cast-iron guarantees that children with special needs will receive the most appropriate education.
The key decision, allowing the new National Council for Special Education - rather than the Department of Education - to take responsibility for day-to-day issues, is welcome. The Department, which is grossly understaffed, has acknowledged that it lacks the expertise required to deliver the kind of expert special education service required. Its decision to devolve power to the new council is in line with the recommendations of the Cromien Report, published last year, which said the department was too preoccupied with day-to-day problems and lacked the breathing space needed to develop policy.
There are reasons for optimism that the council can deliver a decent education service. After years of massive under-investment in the area, resources should not be a problem given the healthy state of the public finances. As one expert in the area noted yesterday, the lack of trained personnel for both teaching and therapy services could present difficulties. But these are not insuperable. Much can be achieved if the Government continues to give the area the kind of priority it has since the Sinnott ruling.
The terms of the new Disabilities Bill will reveal the Government's true commitment to those with special educational needs. As the Irish Autism Alliance pointed out last night, the guarantees given to parents will have to be pinned down. The planned Special Needs Forum must be more than a talking shop. Those who are dealing every day with disabled and autistic children - their parents, guardians and representatives - must be allowed to set the agenda.