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Special education reforms in Ireland: changing systems, changing schools

Kenny, Neil orcid logoORCID: 0000-0002-2340-6586, McCoy, Selina orcid logoORCID: 0000-0001-8774-4018 and Mihut, Georgiana orcid logoORCID: 0000-0001-6500-5417 (2020) Special education reforms in Ireland: changing systems, changing schools. International Journal of Inclusive Education . ISSN 1360-3116

Abstract
Ireland has a distinct and complex history regarding the education of persons with special educational needs (SEN) and in its approach to inclusion. Special and general education largely developed in parallel and separately. As recently as the 1990s, legal actions by parents seeking educational rights for children with severe disabilities prompted appropriate provision for these students and a shift towards inclusive schools. The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act set out important changes-although not all implemented-followed by a series of changes in resource allocation, culminating in the removal of the requirement for students to be diagnosed in order to access supports. International evidence suggests that resource allocation based on learners' profile and SEN diagnosis have been linked to the overidentification of SEN students. Ability to pay for private assessments has also been shown to exacerbate inequality in Ireland and beyond. We examine how Ireland's policy changes are impacting on schools and students, drawing on emerging evidence. We consider concerns over the adequacy of teacher professional development, the intended and potentially unintended consequences from a process of 'domestication' at the school level and ultimately whether the changes are accompanied by sufficient and appropriate accountability measures.
Metadata
Item Type:Article (Published)
Refereed:Yes
Uncontrolled Keywords:Inclusion; SEN resourcing; accountability; school autonomy
Subjects:Social Sciences > Education
DCU Faculties and Centres:DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education
DCU Faculties and Schools > Institute of Education > School of Inclusive & Special Education
DCU Faculties and Schools
Publisher:Taylor & Francis
Official URL:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13603...
Copyright Information:Authors
ID Code:30978
Deposited On:22 Apr 2025 13:04 by Carroll Keoghan . Last Modified 22 Apr 2025 13:04
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