Mary Butler
Question:1113. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Education if she will address matters raised in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40966/22]
View answerTuesday, 26 July 2022
Questions (1113)
Written answers
I would like to thank the Deputy for the question raised and advise the following.
The SET Allocation circular for the 2022/2023 outlined a process through which an individual school could appeal their allocation. The appeal process was as follows: In circumstances where a school considered the school profile was calculated incorrectly, using the data set out in the Special Education Teaching Allocation 2022/23 Circular, 0020/2022 (primary) and 0021/2022 (post primary), an appeal could be submitted to the NCSE for a review of the calculation of the allocation.
The purpose of the appeal process is to confirm that:
- the data used in the creation of the profile was correctly applied to the SET model
- the final model output was applied correctly to the allocation communicated to the relevant school.
This appeal process reviews the data used only and does not review the individual needs of children within the school.
The appeals are examined by an Independent Appeals Officer.
Unfortunately there was a delay with the review of appeals of the SET data used in this year’s SET re-profiling due to the unavailability of the Independent Appeals Officer.
A replacement Appeals Officer was identified and agreed to undertake the role but unfortunately due to illness they were unavailable to complete the review until this week.
I can confirm that the review has now been completed by the Independent Appeals Officer and the NCSE will be advising the school of the outcome of their appeal during the week of the 25th July.
It is acknowledged that there are circumstances, which may arise in schools, which fall outside the above appeals process. These relate to exceptional or emergency circumstances where the school profile significantly changes following the allocation process e.g. a developing school where the enrolment numbers significantly increase year on year. Where a school considers that a review of their allocation is warranted on the grounds of exceptional or emergency circumstances arising in the school, they will be able to request such a review. The exceptional review application form can be accessed through the NCSE website and the school portal.