Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2015
165. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on resource hours for children with Down's syndrome and the Down's Syndrome (Equality of Access) Bill (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6333/15]
View answer167. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if children with Down's syndrome will be allocated resource teaching hours in the new academic year as a matter of right; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6335/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 167 together.
The Deputy will be aware that the Equality of Access (Down's syndrome) Bill has been referred to the Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection.
The Deputy will be aware that I announced yesterday that I intend to retain the current model for allocating resource and learning support teachers to schools for the coming school year, in order to ensure that sufficient time should be allowed for further consultation to take place with education stakeholders and in order to address a number of outstanding issues before the new model is implemented in schools.
I am aware that some parents, and organisations representing children with Down's syndrome, continue to have concerns that the existing system does not give them certainty as to the number of resource teaching hours that may be allocated to their child under the General Allocation Model, as these hours are distributed locally by schools.
I intend to meet with Down's Syndrome Ireland in the coming weeks in order to discuss the concerns that they may have regarding this issue.
