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Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Questions (376, 399)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

376. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there has been a removal of resource teaching hours for schoolgoing children suffering from Down's syndrome who are classed as mild even though they suffer from a variety of other problems including difficulties with their speech; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16048/13]

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Joe McHugh

Question:

399. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider including Down syndrome under the low incidence disability classification for the purpose of allocation resource hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16424/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 399 together.

The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including those with Down syndrome, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, or where a special school or special class placement may be required to ensure such placements are provided for. Pupils with Down syndrome attending mainstream schools may receive additional teaching support in primary schools, either under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM) of teaching supports, if the pupil's educational psychological assessment places the pupil in the mild general learning disability/high incidence disability category, or through an allocation of individual additional resource teaching hours which are allocated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), if the child is assessed as being within the low incidence category of special need, as defined by my Department's Circular Sp Ed 02/05.

I have asked the National Council for Special Education to provide me with policy advice on the issue of whether Down syndrome should be reclassified as a low incidence disability in all instances, regardless of assessed cognitive ability. This advice will be included in the NCSE's comprehensive policy advice on how the education system can best support children with special educational needs which is currently in preparation and which is expected in the coming months.

All schools have been advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching or SNA support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March 2013 and schools will then be notified by Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) of their resource teaching allocation for 2013/14, based on the number of valid applications received.

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