Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2019
218. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 300 and 301 of 26 March 2019 and in the context of the review processes referred to, his plans to hold a separate review for developing schools in May or June 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16498/19]
View answerI wish to advise the Deputy that a process is being put in place to update the allocations of special education teacher support for schools, in circumstances where the school profile significantly changes following the allocation process e.g. a developing school where the net enrolment numbers significantly increase.
The criteria for qualification for mainstream school developing school posts are set out in the Primary and Post Primary School Staffing Schedules for the 2019/20 school year.
Schools who qualify for additional mainstream developing school posts, in accordance with these criteria, will also qualify for additional Special Education Teaching Allocations, to take account of this developing status.
Additional special education teaching allocations will be made for schools who have increased enrolments to the extent that they achieve developing status, once school enrolments have been verified at October 2019, as opposed to being based on projected enrolments. In many cases, the full projected enrolments do not always manifest.
The process therefore cannot take place in May or June 2019, but must wait until the enrolment data for the new school year has been finalised, from September 2019.
