Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
231 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to a number of cases (details supplied) in which no resources are available to cater for high incidence disability groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33617/04]
View answerI understand from my officials that the school gained one additional mainstream teaching post and one additional developing post due to increased enrolments for the 2004-05 school year. In addition, the school has access to 11.5 hours resource teaching support.
I am conscious of difficulties that could arise in relation to the proposed new model of resource teaching provision, particularly for children in small and rural schools, if it were implemented as currently proposed. Accordingly, I will be reviewing the proposed model, including the clustering arrangements associated with the 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. The school's needs will be considered in the context of this review. It is important to emphasise that applications may continue to be made for specific resource teacher allocations in respect of pupils with lower-incidence special educational needs.
232 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science when the outstanding application for resource hours for pupils at a school (details supplied) in County Laois will be dealt with; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33618/04]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has received two applications for resource teaching support from the school in question. These applications will be considered by my Department and a decision will be conveyed to the school at the earliest possible date.
233 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason resource hours for a person (details supplied) in County Laois transferring from a national school were cut of 1.5 hours per week; if this reduction will be re-instated in view of difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33619/04]
View answer235 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if resource hours will be assigned to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33621/04]
View answer244 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science her views on correspondence sent to her Department from a school (details supplied) in County Laois in relation to the new weighted system; the way in which she intends to address the difficulties being experienced by the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33630/04]
View answerI 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.
