Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2004
199 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will extend the 30 June deadline set for school principals to apply for special needs assistants in view of the enormous difficulties they experienced; and the reason such short notice was given to schools. [19665/04]
View answerMy Department has no plans to extend the deadline for the receipt of SER applications. This includes applications for special needs assistant support. The deadline covers applications received by my Department after 31 August 2003.
Applications received after 31 August 2003 and by 30 June 2004 will be processed in the near future. Schools will be notified of the outcome 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. The new system will involve a general weighted allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence special educational needs. This includes pupils with borderline mild and mild general learning disability, specific learning disability and also those with learning support needs. It will also allow for individual allocations in respect of pupils with lower incidence special educational needs.
Schools that applied for special needs assistant support will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible in advance of the next school year. Account is being taken of existing levels of such support in schools. Provision will be made for schools to lodge an appeal where a reduction in support is proposed. The care needs of the pupils concerned will be taken into account.
My Department recognises the difficulties some schools experienced while awaiting the outcome of SER applications and the introduction of the weighted model. The process was complex and time consuming. I shall endeavour to have all aspects completed as quickly as possible. I also thank schools for their co-operation and support in this regard.
