Jack Wall
Question:366 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be supplied with a special needs assistant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15687/03]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
An application for special needs assistant support for the person to whom the Deputy refers was considered recently. On the basis of the supporting data submitted, the person was deemed not to meet the criteria for such support under my Department's circular 07/02. However, the national educational psychological service is currently re-considering this application following receipt of further documentation and a response will issue to the school authorities as soon as this process has been completed.
Jack Wall
Question:367 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that students are waiting for decisions from his Department in regard to specific learning difficulties support mechanisms for over a year; if so, his plans to immediately rectify the position; if not, if he will investigate the problem and have decisions made as soon as possible to overcome the worries and concerns of the pupils and parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15688/03]
Jack Wall
Question:368 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the timescale involved in accessing an application for learning supports for students who suffer from specific learning difficulties from the date of application to the date of a decision; if he has satisfied himself with this period; if not, his plans to improve the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15689/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 and 368 together.
My Department's circular of October 2002 to all primary schools advised of the introduction of a term-based approach to the processing of applications for resource teacher and special needs assistant support for pupils with special needs, including those with specific learning difficulties.
The introduction of the term-based approach was necessary in order to enable my Department to cope with the major expansion in the level of resource teacher and special needs assistant support being sought by and allocated to schools. The level of this expansion is reflected in the fact that the number of resource teachers in the primary system has increased from 104 in October 1998 to more than 2,300 at present and the number of special needs assistants has increased from 299 to approximately 4,000 full-time and a further 1,200 part-time posts over the same period. The previous lack of set application and response dates had posed significant administrative difficulties for my Department's payroll and grant payment systems. I am also aware that the lack of clarity in relation to the timing of the decision-making process had been of concern to schools.
While the introduction of the term-based approach may have an impact on the speed with which some applications are responded to, I am satisfied that its introduction was necessary to ensure my Department's continued capacity to process the volume of applications now arising. I am also satisfied that the impact of the term-based approach in bringing greater clarity and certainty to the process has been generally welcomed by schools, who now have much greater assurance as to when their needs will be met and can plan accordingly.
Jack Wall
Question:369 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the procedure for processing an application by a student or school for support for children with special learning difficulties when they seek to obtain such supports when commencing education at secondary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15690/03]
Jack Wall
Question:371 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason students who were in receipt of learning supports due to specific learning difficulties at primary level have been informed that the same support will not be supplied at secondary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15692/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 371 together.
My Department allocates resource teacher support, special needs assistant support and concessionary teaching hours to second level schools to cater for pupils with special educational needs. Applications for such support are made to my Department by the relevant school authorities. Decisions on the nature and level of support provided in any particular case have regard to the professionally assessed needs of the individual child and the support services required to address such needs in a second level context.
Jack Wall
Question:370 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the total funding provided by his Department for learning support and special needs support programmes for each of the past three years and for the year commencing in September 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15691/03]
I wish to advise the Deputy that funding for learning support teacher posts is provided for in the general budget for primary teacher salaries and it would take an inordinate amount of time to determine precisely the amount involved.
However, the following figures provide an estimate, based on average annual salary costs and the total number of approved learning support teacher posts for the year in question:
|
Year |
Estimate (€) |
|
2000 |
44.4 million |
|
2001 |
48.5 million |
|
2002 |
53.6 million |
|
2003 |
53.6 million |
In addition, an annual learning support grant is provided in respect of each learning support teacher and the total provision is as follows:
|
Year |
Outturn (€) |
|
2000 |
469,000 |
|
2001 |
471,000 |
|
2002 |
497,000 |
|
2003 |
497,000 (allocation) |
Dedicated funding is provided on a calendar year basis for special needs assistant support and the position in that regard is as follows:
|
Year |
Outturn (€) |
|
2000 |
23,113,230 |
|
2001 |
29,428,834 |
|
2002 |
67,749,825 |
|
2003 |
103,611,000 (allocation) |
I am arranging also to forward to the Deputy a general note on the full range of special education services funded by my Department together with the associated costs of each.
Question No. 371 answered with Question No. 369.