Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 July 2021
61. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Education the status of proposed building works for a school (details supplied); the stage of capital appraisal the school is at; the likely timeline to progress; the status of the teacher allocation appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35172/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, a building project for the school in question is included in my Department's school building programme.
The accommodation brief for the proposed project is currently being considered and a site visit is required to assist in developing the brief. My Department has been in contact with the school authorities in this regard.
With regard to teacher allocation, the 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.
Special school staffing allocations are reviewed and updated each year by the NCSE and special schools are staffed on the basis of each year’s current school enrolments. 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. These 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 Circular 0032/2019 - Appointment of Administrative Deputy Principal and Staffing in Special Schools.
The NCSE has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including the allocation of SNAs and reviews.
I understand that the NCSE has been in ongoing correspondence with the school regarding the matters raised and has clarified the allocation of teaching posts and SNAs for the 2021/2022 school-year.
My Department has no role in making individual school determinations.
