I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in allocating this support. The staffing of special schools is determined by reference to the recommendations outlined in the Report of the Special Education Review Committee, 1993, also known as the SERC Report. These ratios range from 6:1 to 11:1, depending on the level of disability. The staffing ratios for special schools in respect of the various disability categorisations, based on SERC recommendations, are set out in my Departments Circular 0038/2010.
Circular 0038/2010 details that the pupil-teacher ratio for classes in schools catering for children with severe and profound disability, or multiple disabilities, is 6:1. It also sets out that the pupil-teacher ratio for classes in schools catering for children with Autism is 6:1. Therefore, the staffing allocation ratio for pupils with either severe and profound general learning disability, multiple disabilities, or Autism, is 6-1, which is the lowest pupil to teacher staffing ratio applicable. There are no plans to amend disability category staffing ratios, however, my Departments Circular 0042/2011 advises that special schools, going forward, will be staffed based on their actual current pupil profiles and the disability category of each pupil, as opposed to primarily by school designation.
