Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2020
268. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which adequate provision can be made in respect of teaching staff levels at a school (details supplied); if her attention has been drawn to the possibility of the loss of a teacher and the negative consequences arising therefrom; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13704/20]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department.
Staffing arrangements for special schools are in line with policy advice provided by the NCSE in 2013, which did not recommend alteration to staffing ratios established under the Special Education Review Committee (SERC) Report in 1993.
Enhanced pupil teacher and SNA ratios are provided to special schools to support them in dealing with pupils' educational and care needs.
Since 2012, special schools are staffed on the basis of individual pupil profile and the disability categorisations of those pupils, as opposed to being based primarily on school designation, in accordance with my Department's molst recent Circular 0032/2019 - Appointment of Administrative Deputy Principal and Staffing in Special Schools.
Special school staffing alloctions are reviewed and updated each year by the NCSE and special schools are staffed on the basis of each year’s current school enrolments.
The NCSE are currently undertaking policy advice on the educational provision that should be in place for students educated in special schools and special classes. This policy advice will make recommendations on the provision required to enable students in special schools and classes achieve better outcomes.
The NCSE have been asked to complete and submit its report to the Minister not later than December 2020. There will be no change to the staffing arrangements currently in place in special schools, pending the receipt and consideration of this policy advice.
The NCSE recently published their staffing allocation for 2020-21, and this is available on their website at www.ncse.ie.
The NCSE is continuing to engage with this school on the matter of their staffing allocation for 2020-21.
