Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 January 2015
141. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way she proposes to address concerns that have been expressed regarding the school profiling element of the proposed new special needs model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3357/15]
View answerThe NCSE working group recommended the development of a new model for delivering teaching resources to schools to support students with special needs.
It recommended that a school's Special Needs Teaching allocation should be determined by a baseline component according to pupil numbers and a school's educational profile. This profile is to take account of the number of pupils with complex needs, the percentage of pupils performing below average in standardised tests and the social context and gender breakdown of the school.
Following consultations with education partners last summer, my Department has developed a new model which could be used to allocate Special Needs teachers to schools. The Department last week engaged in a further round of consultations with stakeholders in relation to the new model.
I am acutely conscious of the challenges faced by parents of students with special needs, and I believe that any new model must be implemented in a manner that is equitable, and best supports all children with special needs in our schools.
