Action Plan Published For Pupils With Learning Difficulties

A cross-departmental action plan to assist young people with severe learning disabilities making the transition from school into adult services, has been published by Employment and Learning Minister Dr Stephen Farry.

Dr Farry's department chaired a cross Departmental group of officials who considered current gaps in provision and opportunities for making improvement to services for young people with severe learning disabilities making the transition from school into adult services.

The work of the group resulted in a Transitions Action Plan, which was considered and endorsed by the Inter-Ministerial Group for Mental Health and Learning Disability.

Dr Farry said: "I am pleased to announce the publication of this cross Departmental action plan for young people with severe learning disabilities leaving school into adult services.

"The Action Plan, which has been produced for an Inter-Ministerial Group, has identified a number of key areas for improvement and proposed actions to deliver these for young people with severe learning disabilities. Many of these actions will require cross Departmental work and a focus on partnership working to deliver improvements to current services, and all of the Departments involved are committed to delivering upon the Action Plan.

"While the Action Plan represents a snapshot of Departments' existing commitments and identifies scope for change, it is also intended as a dynamic document that will be continuously amended and updated to take account of Departments' changing commitments and priorities."

The Department for Employment and Learning will monitor continuing activity on the Action Plan on behalf of relevant Executive Departments and report progress to the Inter-Ministerial Group on Mental Health and Learning Disability.

(MH/LM)