Liam Aylward
Question:198 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science when special educational resources will be approved for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [19659/04]
View answerWednesday, 30 June 2004
Questions (135)
Written answers
My Department received the school's application for special education resources for the pupil. Applications for resource teacher support that were received between 15 February and 31 August 2003, including the one for the pupil, for which a response is outstanding were considered. All schools were notified of the outcome. They were informed what resources may be put in place immediately.
Applications received after 31 August 2003 and by 30 June 2004 will be processed in the near future. Schools will be notified before the commencement of the 2004-2005 school year.
The teacher allocations involved will be made in the context of a new weighted system that I announced recently. An additional 350 teacher posts are being provided to facilitate its introduction. It will involve a general weighted allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence special educational needs. This means that pupils with borderline mild and mild general learning disability, specific learning disability and learning support needs are included. It will also allow for individual allocations in respect of pupils with lower incidence special educational needs.
The weighted allocation will be made as follows. In the most disadvantaged schools, as per the urban dimension of giving children an even break, a teacher of pupils with special educational needs will be allocated for every 80 pupils to cater for the subset of pupils with higher incidence special needs; in all boys schools, the ratio will be one teacher for every 140 pupils; in mixed schools or all girls schools with an enrolment of greater that 30% boys, there will be one for every 150 pupils; and in all girls schools, including schools with mixed junior classes but with 30% or less boys overall, there will be one for every 200 pupils. I intend for the details of the new model to be set out in a comprehensive circular. It will be issued to schools for the commencement of the new school year.
The weighted allocation will enable teaching support to be provided to pupils with higher incidence special educational needs. It will obviate the need for schools to submit individual applications for pupils in the higher incidence categories. Schools may continue to apply for specific teacher allocations in respect of pupils with lower incidence disabilities.
My Department proposes to devise clusters of allocations under the weighted model. Sanction for the filling of posts will be considered in that context and the weighted arrangements. My Department will communicate with schools in this regard before the commencement of the coming school year.