Skip to main content
Normal View

School Staffing.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2004

Tuesday, 5 October 2004

Questions (211, 212, 213, 214, 215)

Paul Kehoe

Question:

328 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) in County Wexford has only two resource teachers; when extra hours will be available; when persons waiting will receive additional teaching support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23504/04]

View answer

Paul Kehoe

Question:

329 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the educational psychologist recommended in 2003 at a school (details supplied) in County Wexford have two special needs assistants and has made a further recommendation in 2004 for one more special needs assistant; when this school will be allocated the special needs assistants that are recommended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23505/04]

View answer

Paul Kehoe

Question:

330 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) in County Wexford is availing of a learning support teacher one and a half days per week whom it shares with four other schools in the area; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact than in the school there are 12 children in receipt of learning support, but has 32 children eligible for learning support as set down by her Department’s criteria; her plans to increase the number of hours for the learning support teacher in the school; her views on whether the number of hours that the learning support teacher spends in the school is satisfactory; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23506/04]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 328, 329 and 330 together.

The school referred to by the Deputy was advised of its teacher allocation under the new weighted system on 24 June 2004. An additional 350 teacher posts are being provided to facilitate the introduction of the new system. This system will involve a general weighted allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher-incidence special educational needs, SEN, that is, those with borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability, as well as those with learning support needs. In addition, it will continue to allow for individual allocations in respect of pupils with lower-incidence special educational needs.

The weighted system 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 than 30% boys, one for every 150 pupils; and in all girls schools including schools with mixed junior classes but with 30% or less boys overall, one for every 200 pupils.

The weighted allocation will enable teaching support to be provided to pupils with higher-incidence SEN and learning support needs. This will obviate the need for schools to submit individual applications for pupils in those categories. Schools may continue to apply for specific teacher allocations in respect of pupils with lower-incidence SEN.

My Department now proposes to devise school clusters in respect of allocations to be made under the weighted model. Sanction for the filling of posts will be considered in the context of these clusters and the weighted arrangements. In order to facilitate the full introduction of the weighted model from the school year 2005-06, my Department has agreed not to redeploy surplus teachers from full-time posts via the panel redeployment process during the current school year. Schools have been informed, also, that they may retain excess part-time teaching hours to the extent that such hours are required for children with low-incidence SEN.

In relation to special needs assistant support my Department prioritised applications for SNA support for new entrants and decisions on the majority of these were communicated to schools on 12th August. My officials are continuing to communicate with schools in respect of other new entrant cases as additional supporting information is provided.

Jack Wall

Question:

331 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in which, under new guidelines, there is a severe staff shortage; if the school employs teaching staff on a temporary basis to overcome the very serious problem; if her Department proposes to deal with the matter if extra staff cannot be employed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23507/04]

View answer

Jack Wall

Question:

340 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a school (details supplied) in County Kildare in relation to facilitating existing pupils, new pupils and staffing levels as a result of the recent changes in regard to primary schools and the provision of staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23536/04]

View answer

I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 340 together.

I understand from my officials that the school in question gained an additional mainstream post due to increased enrolments for the 2004-05 school year. I further understand that the school in question has six special classes for pupils with special needs. The approved level of teaching staff has been sanctioned for all these classes in accordance with my Department's criteria.

In addition, this school was advised of its teacher allocation under the new weighted system on 24 June 2004. Currently, the school has the services of two full-time resource teaching posts, one full-time learning support teacher post and one shared learning support teacher post. The school authorities have recently been informed of the outcome of applications for pupils with lower-incidence special educational needs, SEN. These resources can be put in place immediately and are in addition to the resources mentioned above.

Top
Share