Dinny McGinley
Question:169 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science if he intends to curtail the provision of special education support. [5799/03]
Written Answers - Special Educational Needs.
As part of its evaluation role, my Department's inspectorate recently conducted a sample survey of 25 primary schools which had been allocated resource teacher and special needs assistant support. This review highlighted significant misapplication of the terms of the relevant departmental circulars and arrangements were made for the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) to carry out a review of some 788 applications for support. The 788 applications in question involved a total of 1,590 individual pupils in respect of whom support was sought. Of the 1,590 individual pupils involved, the review concluded that the applications in respect of 948, or 60%, conformed with departmental circulars and the resources sought have been allocated.
In the remaining 642 cases, the key problems identified were levels of support sought in respect of individual pupils in a particular disability category which did not conform to the support levels identified in the circulars and instances in which the relevant assessment reports required to support the application were not available at the school for inspection by NEPS. Where possible, NEPS made a recommendation as to the nature and level of the resources which should be provided and these resources have been sanctioned.