Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 4

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

195 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will address the anomaly in funding for schools such as a school (details supplied) in County Dublin providing integrated education for children with special needs. [24668/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods):

Capitation grants constitute the main form of Government funding for primary schools with a standard capitation grant of £75.50 – 95.87 – applying in the last school year. Capitation funding is intended to contribute to the cost of such items as heating, lighting, cleaning, general upkeep and teaching aids required in schools. This payment is made in respect of all children enrolled in ordinary classes in a school and would include any special needs children who are enrolled on a fully integrated basis.

Special enhanced capitation rates are paid in respect of children with special needs who attend special schools or special classes dedicated to children with particular special needs. These special rates can range from £278.50 – 353.62 – to £451.50 – 573.29 – per pupil depending on the particular level of need involved. Children attending special schools or special classes attached to ordinary schools would generally have a level of special need which renders them unable to attend ordinary national schools on a fully integrated basis.

The difference in the level of capitation funding attracted by pupils attending special schools or special classes and those attending ordinary classes on a fully integrated basis arises from the reduced number of pupils involved in each special classroom situation.

The number of children per classroom in special schools and special classes will be significantly lower than the number in an ordinary national school classroom. However, the general operating costs arising in both circumstances, in terms of light, heating, etc., will not be reduced because of the lesser number of pupils in attendance. As a consequence, the level of funding attracted by each child attending a special class needs to be correspondingly greater than the norm in order to meet the standard operating costs which will continue to be incurred.

For example, a special class for children with a mild general learning disability will cater for a maximum of 11 children. Such a classroom would give rise to the same ongoing operating costs as an ordinary classroom in a national school which would cater for a significantly higher number of pupils. It is necessary therefore that the special class children attract a correspondingly higher rate of capitation funding in order to meet the costs involved. In the case of children with special needs, attending ordinary classes on a fully integrated basis, such additional capitation costs would not apply.

It is important to distinguish between arrangements relating to the funding of schools' ongoing operating costs and funding requirements that might arise where, for example, a child with a disability requires special equipment. Special separate funding arrangements are in place to deal with special equipment needs and any school can make application to my Department for funding towards the purchase of such equipment.

I also assure the Deputy that my Department will consider applications from mainstream national schools for the provision of specialised equipment for pupils with special needs who have been fully integrated into the mainstream system.

Should the school referred to by the Deputy wish to apply for additional funding for special equipment such an application should be made through its local inspector.