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Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2014

Tuesday, 8 April 2014

Questions (215)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

215. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Education and Skills the provisions that have been put in place for children with Down syndrome starting school this September; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16521/14]

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Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department allocates significant resources to ensure that pupils with special educational needs, including pupils with Down syndrome, can participate fully in education.The policy of my Department is that children with special educational needs, including children with Down Syndrome, should be included in mainstream placements with additional supports provided. All schools and all school places are therefore available for children with special educational needs. In circumstances where children with special educational need require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available. Pupils with Down syndrome may receive additional teaching support in schools, either from a school's general allocation of Learning Support/ Resource Teaching, or from an allocation of additional Resource Teacher hours to the schools from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE). Pupils who have care needs may receive access to Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support in schools. Many children with Down syndrome have access to such SNA support. Other supports include provision for Assistive Technology which can ensure that educational materials can be provided in accessible formats and provision for special transport arrangements. Supports will continue to be allocated to schools to support pupils with special educational needs, including children with Down Syndrome starting school next September. Finally, the Deputy may also be aware that the recent NCSE report on Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs recommended that under a proposed new allocation model, all children, including those with Down syndrome, should be allocated additional resources in line with their level of need, rather than by disability category. An NCSE Working Group has been charged with developing proposals for a new allocation model. Any changes to the current allocation model will therefore be considered in the light of the recommendations of the report of this Group.

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