Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
Question:
237
Dr. Upton
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the provisions, if any, he has made for special teaching support for schools with non-national students at primary and secondary levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[12289/00]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that new measures were introduced recently to ensure that there is appropriate educational provision in place for non-English speaking pupils at primary school level.
Primary schools which have 15 or more non-national pupils with significant English language deficits will be automatically entitled to an additional temporary teacher for a period of up to two years. Schools with 35 or more such pupils will be entitled to two temporary teachers. Where two schools operate on one campus and have 15 or more such pupils they will be entitled to an additional temporary teacher on a shared basis. Schools eligible for additional teacher(s) will also receive a once-off grant of £200.
Primary schools in which between four and 14, inclusive, non-English speaking non-national pupils are enrolled will receive grant assistance. Schools with between four and nine such pupils will receive grant assistance in the amount of £5,000 while schools with between ten and 14 will receive grant assistance in the amount of £7,500. This grant aid is intended to enable schools to take appropriate measures to improve the standard of English of non-national pupils with significant English language deficits. Schools with three or fewer such pupils are expected to provide for the educational provisions of those pupils from their existing resources.
Managerial authorities of schools with non-national primary pupils enrolled who have significant English language deficits should submit an application for assistance to the primary branch of my Department.
At second level, my Department has allocated approximately 12 whole-time equivalent teaching posts in the current school year specifically to cater for the needs of children who do not speak English as their first language. Individual post-primary schools or vocational education committees may apply for additional teaching hours in respect of non-national students who may have particular English language deficits.
The Programme for Prosperity and Fairness provides that the arrangements in relation to the allocation of teachers to cater for the education of refugees and asylum seekers will be subject to review. In addition, the refugee language support unit, established under the auspices of Trinity College, will be provided with a budget of the order of £1.2 million over the period of the programme to co-ordinate action for language tuition for refugees to assist them along the pathway to independent living. The unit's functions are fulfilled in co-operation with the refugee agency, FÁS and refugee groups themselves. In addition, refugees are among the groups catered for as part of the adult literacy programme provided by the vocational education committees.
