School Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 July 2022

Tuesday, 5 July 2022

Questions (346)

Michael Lowry

Question:

346. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Education the reason that a school (details supplied) has not been provided access to a further English additional language teacher; if her Department has taken into account that numerous pupils from countries such as Syria, Slovenia, Lithuania, Pakistan and Poland are enrolled in this school; the steps that will be taken to address the need for extra EAL teaching resources considering this school is continually increasing its number of EAL pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35711/22]

Written answers

Minister for Education

Each primary school receives a Special Education Teaching allocation.  The Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years.  

Further temporary Language Support is also provided, as necessary, to schools that have high concentrations of pupils that require language (EAL) support. At primary level, these allocations are made on the basis of appeals by schools to the Primary Staffing Appeals Board.  Information is available in Circular 25/2022.

The school referred to by the Deputy has been allocated additional EAL support through this appeals process and has been informed of same.