Written answer
Special Educational Needs
The WALK Peer Ability Programme’s in-school pilot ended in June 2026, with funding secured until December and a Dormant Accounts application pending for further support. The Department will not fund WALK’s proposal in its current form because it cannot be scaled to all special schools; a revised proposal is awaited.
60. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm when a decision will be made on the submission from WALK to extend and expand the WALK Peer Programme over the next four years. [67482/26]
Comment on this
61. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth the progress that has been made on the meeting scheduled by her Department (details supplied) to discuss the WALK submission; the number of meetings that have taken place on the matter; the subsequent engagement or feedback that has been given to WALK on their submission; and when is a conclusion envisaged. [67481/26]
Comment on this
63. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth to confirm that interim funding will be provided to WALK to ensure that the WALK Peer Ability Programme will be able to support students in Louth and beyond for the full academic school year. [67480/26]
Comment on this
64. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Youth if the Government will reverse the decision to end the WALK Peer Ability Programme. [67479/26]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 61, 63 and 64 together.
I want to thank the Deputy for allowing me the opportunity to clarify the position in relation to the WALK Peer Ability Programme and the request to extend and expand the programme over the next four years.
As you are aware the Programme for Government includes a number of commitments relevant to students attending special schools. This includes the development and strengthening of bridges from special schools into employment.
Over the past four years, my Department, in partnership with the National Council of Special Education (NCSE) and Walkinstown Association for People with an Intellectual Disability (WALK), has been testing two different approaches to a transitions support model for students in special schools.
The in-school element of both pilot programmes finished in June 2026. WALK is fully funded until December 2026 to support the students who left school this year. I can also advise that an application under Dormant Accounts Fund 2027 to provide continued support for these students until June 2026 has been submitted and a decision is expected shortly.
My officials have met with WALK on a number of occasions to discuss the programme, in particular in relation to the scalability of the current model. I understand that WALK has also met with officials from DFHERIS and DCDE.
WALK confirmed to my officials that they would not be in a position to scale this programme to all special schools in the medium term. On that basis, my officials advised WALK that the proposal in its current format could not be funded as it would exclude the vast majority of special schools for an extended period.
My officials suggested to WALK that it look at the possibility of modifying or amending the programme to align with current provision and it has agreed to examine that possibility. A revised proposal from WALK is awaited.