Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2004
327 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if two primary schools agree to realignment and one is included in the teacher support pilot scheme project, if the realigned school will be included in this project if realignment takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5002/04]
View answer328 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if two primary schools agree to realign and one is included in the Giving Children an Even Break scheme, if the realigned school will be included in this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5003/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 327 and 328 together.
Where schools are amalgamating or realigning, my Department has operated a consistent policy whereby, under the new arrangements, the entitlements of the pupils concerned under disadvantaged initiatives would not be less favourable than their entitlements prior to amalgamation or realignment.
329 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if two schools agree to realign, if persons who are in receipt of special needs hours and resource teaching hours will still be in receipt of the same number of such hours if realignment takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5004/04]
View answer330 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if two primary schools agree to realign, if the same facilities that exist in one (details supplied) will remain with no reduction or change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5005/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 329 and 330 together.
The Deputy will be aware my Department is reviewing existing arrangements for the allocation of special educational supports to primary schools. In that context, my officials have initiated discussions on the matter with representative interests. It would be premature to anticipate the outcome. I can confirm, however, that the basic purpose of that review is to ensure each school has the level of resources required to cater for its pupils with special educational needs.
331 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his Department has set guidelines for primary schools for realignment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5006/04]
View answerI take it that by realignment the Deputy is referring to the amalgamation of two or more primary schools. In this regard the commission on school accommodation published two reports in September 2001, namely, the Amalgamation of First Level Schools and Amalgamation of Second Level Schools. These reports present a framework of key issues and recommend detailed models for the amalgamation process together with other recommendations on dealing with amalgamations in the future. The recommendations in the report are incorporated in the best practice in dealing with amalgamation within the Department. Copies of the relevant first or second level report are also made available for guidance to school communities embarking on an amalgamation process. A number of recommendations in the reports require further consultation with the education partners and consideration of the resource implications of their implementation and this will be undertaken in due course.
