Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 May 2000

Vol. 518 No. 6

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Pat Rabbitte

Question:

533 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a start-up grant for necessary educational equipment and resources of only £400 is provided in respect of children diagnosed as having special educational needs and for whom a resource teacher is sanctioned in a mainstream primary school when a dozen or more children may have to be provided for; the reason no additional capitation grant is paid to assist with the purchase of resources; the reason the per capita annual grant of £263 for children in special classes is not applied in the case of children needing a resource teacher's assistance; the reason the same resourcing is not provided for all special needs children; his views on whether this situation is a disincentive to the integration of special needs children in mainstream classes; when he will sanction a special equipment/ resources annual capitation grant to provide for the special needs of children assessed as being in need of a resource teacher in view of the reply to parliamentary Question No. 87 of 8 February 2000 when the Minister stated the necessary resources to meet the needs of children with special needs were being deployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12414/00]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 533 together.

The funding levels to which the Deputies refer reflect the different models of service involved in catering for children in dedicated special facilities and catering for children in integrated settings in mainstream classes.

The start-up grant paid in the case of newly established special classes reflects the need to provide the basic materials and equipment required for the operation of such classes. The role of the resource teacher is to support special needs children in existing ordinary classes which will already have access to a significant amount of materials and equipment which will be accessible to the special needs child and the resource teacher.

Capitation funding is intended to contribute to the general operating costs of schools. It is not intended to meet the special equipment requirements of children with special needs. All children attending special schools and special classes attached to ordinary schools attract a special rate of capitation funding. The rate of £263 to which the Deputies refer is paid in respect of children attending special facilities for children with a mild general learning disability. All special facilities operate at significantly reduced pupil teacher ratios and the higher capitation rates paid in respect of children attending such facilities are intended to ensure that the standard operating costs which apply equally to such classes can be met notwithstanding the smaller number of children involved.

A separate funding allocation is available to meet special equipment needs arising in relation to children with disabilities, whether in special schools, special classes or in integrated settings. In the current year, a sum of £845,000 is available for this purpose.

Under the IT 2000 programme, each ordinary primary school has been allocated a basic grant of £2,000, together with a grant of £5 per pupil. Each special school has received a basic grant of £3,000 together with a grant of £20 per pupil. In addition, a sum of £500,000 has been made available in the current year to meet special equipment needs of individual special needs children, whether in special schools or special classes or in integrated settings.

Also, as part of the IT 2000 programme, arrangements are currently being made for the payment of an information technology grant of £700 to each resource teacher to facilitate the purchase of relevant hardware and-or software items.

I will continue to monitor the above arrangements to ensure that adequate funding is made available to support schools in catering for children with special needs.