To ask the Minister of Health when the comprehensive analysis of the therapeutic needs for children with special educational needs in special schools will be completed.

The Public Health Agency is undertaking a comprehensive analysis to identify what the assessed therapeutic needs are for children and young people (CYP) who attend Special School to inform the development of an effective model of therapy provision and associated workforce development and planning.

The first stage of this analysis is the completion of a comprehensive scope of the assessed needs of CYP in the Special School sector in respect of Occupational Therapy, Orthoptics, Physiotherapy and Speech and Language Therapy. It is expected that the findings of this stage will be complete by the end of 2025.

These findings will be crucial to inform the next stage of the exercise, which will involve careful analysis of the capacity, workforce, model and skill mix required to meet the identified demand and to inform the development of an integrated service pathway proposal that meets the needs of the CYP. It is anticipated this second phase will be completed by the end of 2026.