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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004

Wednesday, 17 November 2004

Questions (437, 438, 439, 440, 441, 442, 443, 444)

Michael Ring

Question:

478 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo, who needs a full time classroom assistant, is getting this service; the position of this case; the length of time has this person been approved the full-time classroom assistant for. [29151/04]

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Written answers

My Department sanctioned 23 hours 20 minutes per week special needs assistant support for this child in June 2002. Recently, my Department received an application for an upgrade of the special needs assistant post from a part-time to full-time position. The application is being considered and a decision will be conveyed to the school as soon as this process has been completed.

Michael Ring

Question:

479 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will lose the resource teaching help currently being provided to them. [29152/04]

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As the Deputy will be aware, the proposed new system for resource teacher allocation involves a general allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with a higher incidence of special educational needs. Such needs relate to borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability. The pupils include those with learning support needs who function at or below the tenth percentile on a standardised test of reading and, or, mathematics. An additional 350 teacher posts are being provided to facilitate the introduction of the new system.

I am conscious of difficulties which could arise with this model, especially for children in small and rural schools, if it were implemented as currently proposed. Accordingly, I will review the proposed model to ensure that it provides an automatic response for pupils with common mild learning disabilities without the need for cumbersome individual applications, while at the same time ensuring that pupils currently in receipt of service continue to receive the level of service appropriate to their needs. The review will involve consultation with educational interests and the National Council for Special Education before it is implemented next year. It is important to emphasise that applications may be made for specific resource teacher allocations in respect of pupils with lower incidence special educational needs.

David Stanton

Question:

480 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science the budget totals allocated for each of the CABAS pilot projects funded by her Department for 2004; the breakdown of allocated allowances within these budgets for consultancy fees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29218/04]

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As a result of measures intended to streamline the funding allocation process, my Department now provides a budget allocation to the combined applied behavioural analysis school, CABAS, pilot projects on a school-year basis. The arrangements were implemented during the 2003-2004 school year. CABAS Dublin was allocated an overall budget of €928,705.70 for the period from September 2003 to August 2004. Of this amount, a sum of €75,644 was allocated for consultancy. CABAS Drogheda was allocated €1,168,497 for the period from February 2003 to August 2004. Of this amount, a sum of €71,617 was allocated for consultancy. CABAS Cork was allocated €1,597,955 for the period from April 2003 to August 2004. The specific allocation for consultancy is not readily available. I am making arrangements to forward this information to the Deputy as quickly as possible.

David Stanton

Question:

481 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in regard to the budget allocated to the Cork CABAS, allowances were made in it for maintenance of the heating system and provision of a cleaning service for the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29219/04]

View answer

The budget allocated by my Department to the combined applied behavioural analysis school Cork includes a provision for the general day-to-day running costs of the facility. The amount allocated for the school year 2003-04 was €17,475.

David Stanton

Question:

482 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the restructuring of all CABAS pilot schools which has been undertaken recently; if she was consulted on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29220/04]

View answer

I am not aware of any restructuring of combined applied behavioural analysis school facilities. If the Deputy has any further information and makes it available to me, I will have the matter investigated.

David Stanton

Question:

483 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she is in discussions with the Irish Autism Alliance regarding templates for ABA schools; if other parental groups are being consulted on this matter; if not, the reason therefor; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29221/04]

View answer

My officials have on-going discussions with the Irish Autism Alliance on a range of issues relating to educational services for children with autism. Those issues include matters relating to the various autism facilities in which members of the alliance are directly involved. No decision has yet been taken in my Department on the future of the facilities in question. In the event that the development of a generic model of autism facility arises for consideration, I will give consideration to the nature and extent of consultation which may be required.

David Stanton

Question:

484 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if her Department has conducted financial audits on any of the ABA pilot projects; if she has satisfied herself that guidelines issued by her Department concerning budgets are being adhered to; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29222/04]

View answer

My Department has not conducted financial audits on the ABA pilot projects. It is, however, open to my Department to conduct such audits. All ABA facilities must furnish my Department with copies of their annual audited accounts of income and expenditure. They are required to adhere to the budgets provided to them and no additional expansion or expenditure can be undertaken without my Department's prior approval.

David Stanton

Question:

485 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has officials sitting on the boards of management of the ABA pilot projects; if guidelines or directions have been given to the boards of management to request that independent financial experts be appointed to said boards of management; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29223/04]

View answer

There are no officials of my Department on the board of management of any of the ABA pilot projects. In line with current Department guidelines, these boards should comprise representatives of parents of children attending the facilities, the staff of the facilities and the ABA consultants. The boards should be chaired by a person other than the director of the facility who is answerable to the board. It is a requirement that all ABA facilities receiving funding from my Department should submit audited accounts on an annual basis.

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