My Department allocates teacher posts and special needs assistant posts to second level schools and vocational education committees to cater for pupils with special educational needs. Applications for such support are made to my Department by the relevant school authority. Each application is considered on the basis of the assessed needs of the pupil or pupils involved and the nature and level of the support provided is determined on the advice of the psychological service. The second level schools throughout County Kildare have been allocated 45.45 whole-time equivalent teaching posts and 11.65 special needs assistant posts to date to cater for pupils with special educational needs for the 2004-05 school year.
In addition, learning support — remedial — teacher services are provided to all second level schools. This service is focused on students with literacy or numeracy difficulties. Twenty three whole-time equivalent teaching posts of this nature have been allocated to second level schools throughout County Kildare for the 2004-05 school year.
My Department is considering a few applications for additional resources in respect of pupils in second level schools in County Kildare. The relevant school authorities will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. I intend that all applications for special educational resources for primary schools received by 30 June 2004 will be responded to before the commencement of the 2004-05 school year. Applications for resource teacher support received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 for which a response is outstanding have been considered and schools have been notified of the outcome. This outcome indicates to schools the resources that may be put in place immediately. Applications received after 31 August 2003 and by 30 June 2004 will be processed soon and the outcome notified to schools before the commencement of the 2004-05 school year.
The teacher allocations involved will be made in the context of a new weighted system which I announced recently. An additional 350 teacher posts are being provided to facilitate the introduction of the new system. The new system will involve a general weighted allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence special educational needs, for example, those with borderline mild and mild general learning disability, specific learning disability, and those with learning support needs. It will also allow for individual allocations in respect of pupils with lower incidence special educational needs.
Schools which have applied for special needs assistant support will be advised of the outcome of their applications as soon as possible in advance of the next school year. Account is being taken of existing levels of special needs assistant support allocation in schools. In cases where a reduction in the level of special needs assistant support is proposed, there will be provision for schools to appeal, having regard to the care needs of the pupils concerned. My Department is considering applications from primary schools in County Kildare for the establishment of special classes.