I propose to take Questions Nos. 233, 235 and 244 together.
The Deputy will be aware that my Department is proposing a new system for the allocation of resource teaching supports to pupils with special educational needs, SEN. This system will involve a general teaching allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence SEN, that is, those with borderline mild and mild general learning disability, specific learning disability, and also those with learning support needs. It will also allow for individual allocations in respect of pupils with lower incidence SEN.
The school referred to by the Deputy currently has the services of a shared learning support teacher together with part-time resource hours. The pupils referred to by the Deputy fall into the high-incidence category. It would be expected that the pupils' SEN can be met from within the current resource-learning support teaching allocation available to the school.
I am conscious of difficulties that could arise regarding the proposed new model, particularly for children in small and rural schools, including the school in question, if it were implemented as currently proposed. Accordingly I am having the proposed model reviewed 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 representative interests and the National Council for Special Education before it is implemented next year. The needs of the school will be considered in the context of this review. I should emphasise that individual applications may continue to be made for specific resource teacher allocations in respect of pupils with lower-incidence special educational needs.