Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
426 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which learning support teachers are allocated to schools on the basis of assessments of the level of need; the systems which are in place to ensure schools which run successful learning support programmes are not penalised for their success by receiving reduced access to new learning support resources becoming available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21801/04]
View answerA new system for allocating learning support teachers to primary schools, set out in my Department's circular SP ED 09/04, will involve a general weighted allocation to each school to cater for pupils with higher incidence special educational needs, that is, borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability, and those with learning support needs, that is, functioning at or below the 10th percentile on a standardised test of reading and-or mathematics. The new system will also continue with the existing arrangement allowing for individual allocations of teacher support for of pupils with lower-incidence special educational needs. Being enrolment-based, the weighted system will provide an assured level of learning support to all schools.
