Tom Hayes
Question:72 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the findings of his Department’s audit of special needs provision, commenced in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14261/04]
View answerTuesday, 18 May 2004
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Written answers
As part of its evaluative role, my Department's inspectorate conducted a sample survey, in late 2002, of 25 primary schools which had been allocated resource teacher and special needs assistant support. The objective of the review was to provide a detailed account of the additional allocation of resources for pupils with special educational needs with particular reference to the terms of the relevant departmental circulars.
The report expressed concern at the higher than expected incidence of significant disability identified in the survey, although it emphasised the need for caution in drawing firm conclusions because of the small sample involved. It also noted that increased access to psychological assessment services in recent years had led to increased numbers of pupils in mainstream schools being identified as having special needs. Nonetheless, the report expressed concern that the greater availability of resources in recent years may also have led to significant over-identification of special needs in schools and that such over-identification had serious long-term implications for the future funding and development of special education services.
Arising from the findings in the report, subsequent applications for special educational resources have been subject to individual verification. In addition, my Department is reviewing the existing arrangements for the allocation of special educational supports to primary schools. In the case of teacher resources, the outcome for each applicant school will be based on a new weighted system of allocation which I announced recently. Transitional arrangements for the introduction of the weighted system are being developed at present in consultation with representative interests. As soon as those consultations have been completed, the detailed arrangements for processing applications for resources will be set out in a circular to be issued to schools before the end of the current school year.