APPENDIX
Letter from Mr John McFall MP, Parliamentary
Under-Secretary of State, Northern Ireland Office, to the Chairman
of the Committee
I refer to the Report published by your Committee
on 19 April indicating the conclusions reached following its inquiry
into public expenditure on special needs education in Northern
Ireland.
The findings of the inquiry are of relevance to both
the Departments of Education and Health and Social Services, and
to the various Boards and Trusts with responsibilities in these
areas, and we have taken a range of comments and views into account
in determining our considered response to the report. I am setting
out the Government's response as an annex to this letter. Where
the recommendations have focussed on a particular theme or area
of concern, we have grouped these.
The Committee's report itself acknowledges the extent
of developmental work on special educational needs which has taken
place since implementation of the Education (Northern Ireland)
Order 1996. This work continues, informed by the outcomes of recent
studies, including that of your Committee. Two developments of
particular relevance have perhaps been the work of the new interBoard
Regional Strategy Group, which has been systematically considering
the main recommendations made by the Comptroller and Auditor General
in his 1998 Report, together with the Government's resource allocation
decisions for special educational needs for the 19992000
year. These included major new initiatives designed to improve
the supply and training of educational psychologists and promote
further mainstream placements, and these are described in more
detail at the appropriate points in the annex itself.
I hope that the Committee will find this response
both relevant and adequate, and I look forward to further developments
in special needs provision, informed by the advice contained in
your Committee's report. I am most grateful to you and your colleagues
on the Committee for the time and effort you have spent in this
crucial area of educational provision.
17 June 1999
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