Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2015
508. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Education and Skills in respect of the interim measure recently introduced whereby schools will receive 2.5 resource teacher hours per week for each child with Down's syndrome, whether she will provide details of the number of new applications for which a request to avail of these hours has been received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17782/15]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that I recently announced that additional resources will be allocated to schools, as an interim measure, to support those children with Down syndrome, who are not already supported through the National Council for Special Education's (NCSE) low incidence resource teaching annual allocation process.
I advised that this measure was being introduced in recognition of the length of time it will take to introduce the new resource teacher allocation model and the fact that children with Down syndrome experience a cluster of difficulties relating to this syndrome, in addition to general learning difficulties, including speech and language developmental delays.
Schools were asked to apply to the NCSE for additional resource teaching hours for children with Down syndrome by 17th April, 2015, following which the additional hours will be included in allocations to qualifying schools for the 2015/16 school year.
The NCSE has advised that 161 valid applications have been received from schools to date, in respect of children with Down syndrome, not already supported through the NCSE annual allocation process. Additional applications may also be received under any second round application process.
