Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 November 2004
477 Mr. Lowry asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to a letter (details supplied) regarding the issue of the new weighted system for assessment of special needs teacher requirements in primary schools; if she will reconsider the special needs requirement in the school outlined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30213/04]
View answerI am aware of the concerns raised in the letter regarding the impact that the proposed model for allocating resource teachers to primary schools will have on the school in question. The school has two full-time resource teaching posts, one full-time learning support post and approximately 12.5 part-time resource teaching hours. I am conscious of difficulties that could arise regarding the proposed model, particularly for children in small and rural schools if it were implemented as 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 pupils 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.
