Special Educational Needs.

Tuesday, 22 September 2009

Questions (393, 394)

Brian Hayes

Question:

394 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the names and addresses of schools in which a special class for children with mild general learning difficulties was suppressed earlier in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32458/09]

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Brian Hayes

Question:

395 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Education and Science the details of additional resources supplied by his Department in the 2009/2010 school year to the pupils who were enrolled in special classes for children with mild general learning difficulties suppressed earlier in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32459/09]

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Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 395 together.

I wish to assure the Deputy that there will be no pupil with a special educational need who will be without access to a special needs teacher as a result of the decision to apply the normal rules which govern the appointment and retention of teachers of special classes for pupils with a mild general learning disability.

All primary schools were allocated additional teaching resources under the General Allocation Model to enable them support pupils with high incidence special educational needs including mild general learning disability (MGLD). Schools can decide how best to use this allocation based on the needs of the pupils. Most pupils with a MGLD are included in ordinary classes with their peers and are supported by their class teacher. The curriculum is flexible so that teachers can cater for the needs of children of different abilities.

The Deputy will be aware that teacher allocations to schools typically increase or decrease depending on pupil enrolment. In the case of classes for MGLD the normal pupil teacher ratio that applies is 11:1. My Department however permits schools to retain a teaching post where it has a minimum of 9 pupils in the class. This minimum was not fulfilled in a number of classes; therefore schools no longer qualify to retain the classes.

Some schools have advised that they had enrolled children with a low incidence disability in classes intended for pupils with a mild general learning disability. These children may qualify for individual resource teaching support through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and these schools were advised that it is open to them to liaise with the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) in this regard. The Deputy will appreciate that the NCSE allocates such resources and my Department does not retain records in relation to individual allocations. I have arranged for the Deputy's query in relation to this issue to be forwarded to the NCSE for their direct reply.

I wish to reiterate that pupils with a mild general learning disability have, and will continue to have, access to additional teaching resources to support their education. However, there is a requirement to make appropriate use of the resources available and along with all other areas of expenditure, provision is dependent on the resources available to the Government.

Details of the schools where classes for MGLD were suppressed are set out below for the Deputy's information.

Mild General Learning Disability (MGLD) Classes in Mainstream Schools

School name	Address
Bailieboro N S	Bailieboro, Co Cavan
Clochar San Dominic	Dunlaoghaire, Co Dublin
Scoil Colmcille Senior	Wyattville, Ballybrack, Co Dublin
Archbishop Mcquaid National School	Loughlinstown, Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin
Brackenstown Senior N S	Brackenstown, Swords, Co Dublin
St Helens Senior N S	Martello, Portmarnock, Co Dublin
Scoil Ursula	Blackrock, Co Cork
Scoil Mhuire Banrion	Mayfield, Cork
Our Lady Of Mercy N S	Bantry, Co Cork
Mallow Con N S	Mallow, Co Cork
Rathcormac N S	Rathcormac, Co Cork
Sn Louise De Marillac C	Drumfin rd, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
Sn Louise De Marillac	Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
Sn Banrion Na Naingeal1	Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
Bainrion Na N-Aingal 2	Ballyfermot Upper, Dublin 10
St Gabriels Ns	Dominican Convent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
St Michaels Ns	Dominican Convent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
St Raphaels Ns	Dominican Convent, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
Scoil Mhuire/Seosamh	Mount La Salle, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10
St Josephs G N S	Barry Avenue, Finglas West, Dublin 11
St Kevins B N S	Barry Avenue, Finglas North-West, Dublin 11
Sn An Spioraid Naiomh C	Sillogue rd, Ballymun, Dublin 11
St Josephs Jnr	Balcurris, Ballymun, Dublin 11
St Josephs Senior N S	Balcurris, Ballymun, Dublin 11
St Brigids Senior Girls	St Brigids Senior Girls, Finglas West, Dublin 11
Scoil Mhuire Ogh 1	Loreto College, Crumlin rd, Dublin 12
Muire Na Dea Coirle G	Mourne rd, Drimnagh, Dublin 12
Muire Na Dea Coirle Inf	Mourne rd, Drimnagh, Dublin 12
Muire Og 2 Loreto Con	Crumlin rd, Dublin 12
St Peters B N S	Limekiln rd, Greenhills, Dublin 12
St Pauls G N S	Greenhills, Kimmage West, Dublin 12
Lady Of Good Counsel Ns	Mourne rd, Drimnagh, Dublin 12
Holy Cross N S	Upper Kilmacud Road, Dundrum, Dublin 14
Ladyswell N S	Ladywell, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15
Scoil Mhuire Sin	Blackestown, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15
Scoil Mhuire	Ballyboden, Dublin 16
St Francis Junior National School	Priorswood, Dublin 17
St Josephs Ns	Macroom Road, Bonnybrook, Dublin 17
Scoil Nano Nagle	Bawnoge, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Neillstown N S	St Peter Apostle N.S, Neillstown, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
St Marys Junior N S	Rowlagh, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
St Peter Apostle Sen Ns	Neillstown, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
St Ronans N S	Deansrath, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
St Bernadettes Senior N S	Quarryvale, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
Sacred Heart N S	Sruleen, Clondalkin, Dublin 22
St Marys School	Greenhills rd, Tallaght, Dublin 24
Scoil N An Croi Ro Naofa	Killinarden, Tallaght, Dublin 24
S N Aenghusa	Scoil N Aenghusa Sin, Balrothery, Tallaght, Dublin 24
Scoil Cnoc Mhuire Sin	Knockmore Ave, Killinarden, Tallaght, Dublin 24
An Chroi Ro Naofa Sois	Killinarden, Tallaght, Dublin 24
Scoil Cnoc Mhuire Junior	Knockmore Ave, Killinarden, Tallaght, Dublin 24
St Brigids N S	St. Brigid’s N.S., Brookfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24
St Aidans Ns	Brookfield, Tallaght, Dublin 24
Scoil Chaitlin Maude	Cnoc Mhuire, Tamhlacht, Baile Atha Cliath 24
Holy Rosary Primary School	Old Court Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin 24
St Dominics N S	Tallaght, Dublin 24
St Annes Primary School	Fettercairn, Tallaght, Dublin 24
St Marks Sen Ns	Springfield, Tallaght, Dublin24
St Marys N S	Windsor Ave., Fairview, Dublin 3
Scoil Bhreandain	Coolock, Dublin 5
S N Caitriona Naionain	Coolock, Dublin 5
St Eithnes Senior G N S	Edenmore, Raheny, Dublin 5
Cromcastle Green B N S	Kilmore rd West, Artane, Dublin 5
Scoil Nais Ide Cailini	Kilmore rd West, Artane, Dublin 5
St Malachys B N S	Edenmore, Raheny, Dublin 5
Dominican Convent Girls	Cabra, Dublin 7
St Gabriels N S	Cowper Street, Dublin 7
Goldenbridge Convent	Goldenbridge, Inchicore , Dublin 8
Presentation Primary School	Blackpitts, Dublin 8
S N Muire Gan Smal B	Inchicore, Dublin 8
Sancta Maria C B S	Synge St, Dublin 8
Scoil Na Mbrathar	Francis St, Dublin 8
Scoil Seamus C B S	James St, Dublin 8
St Audoens Ns	Cook Street, Dublin 8
Scoil Treasa Naofa	Petrie Road, Donroe Avenue, Dublin 8
St Patricks N School	Drumcondra, Dublin 9
An Leinbh Iosa Cailini	Whitehall, Dublin 9
Sn Na Maighdine Muire B	Ballymun, Dublin 9
S N Caitriona Sois	Renmore, Galway
Sn Caitriona Sinsear	Renmore, Galway
Scoil An Chroi Naofa	Ballinasloe, Co Galway
St Olivers Ns	Ballycasheen, Killarney, Co Kerry
Scoil Mhichil Naofa	Athy, Co Kildare
St Patricks Ns	Drumshambo, Co Leitrim
Corpus Christi N S	Moyross, Limerick
Galvone Ns	Kennedy Park, Limerick City
Scoil O Curain B	Newcastlewest, Co Limerick
Scoil Mhainchin Buach	Bothar Siolroin, Limerick
S N Ard Mhuire C	Ballsgrove, Drogheda, Co Louth
Scoil Iosa	Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo
St Marys Convent N S	Trim, Co Meath
St Marys Bns	St Mary’s Hill, Monaghan
Mercy Primary School	Birr, Co Offaly
St Brendans Monastery	Birr Monastery, Birr, Co Offaly
S N Naomh Brighde Buach	Tullamore, Co Offaly
St Annes Con N S	Castlerea, Co Roscommon
St Marys Convent	Nenagh, Co Tipperary
Sacred Heart Primary School	Roscrea, Co Tipperary
Scoil Na Mbraithre	Nenagh, Co Tipperary
St Senans National Sch	Templeshannon, Enniscorthy, Co Wexford
Sisters Of Charity N S	Ravenswell Convent, Ravenswell, Bray, Co Wicklow
Clochar Muire N S	Rathdrum, Co Wicklow
St Fergals Junior National School	Ballywaltrim, Bray, Co Wicklow
St Laurences N S	Kindlestown, Greystones, Co Wicklow
An T Inbhear Mor B N S	Arklow, Co Wicklow
S N Naomh Michael	Arklow Convent, Arklow, Co Wicklow
St Josephs N S	Templerainey, Arklow, Co Wicklow
Scoil An Choroin Mhuire	Wicklow Town, Co Wicklow
St Fergals Senior Ns	Ballywaltrim, Bray, Co Wicklow