Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 February 2024
147. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Education the reason there are no grounds for appeal for schools with students with additional needs under the new model for allocating special education teaching hours; what avenues schools with pupils who are not receiving the educational supports they are entitled to can take in order to address these issues; and if she will consider reinstating a comprehensive appeals process for SET hours. [6827/24]
View answerI would like to thank the Deputy for the question.
Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government. It is also a key priority for me as Minister for Special Education & Inclusion, for my department and for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers.
The allocation model for 2024/25 distributes the total available number of Special education Teacher posts in line with each school’s profile of need. The model makes an allocation on the basis of a number of inputs, including enrolment numbers. It also uses school-level data from standardised tests in order to reflect relative levels of overall needed.
It seeks to distribute teaching resources in the fairest possible manner, taking into account as much evidence as possible in respect of individual schools and evidence in respect of the best possible use of resources. Of schools across the country, 67 % of schools have either increased their allocation or retained their previous allocation. Of those schools whose allocation has been decreased, 70 % of these schools have reduced their hours by 5 hours or less.
I would be the first to acknowledge that every school is different, and that schools can experience unique circumstances that may be difficult to reflect in any standardised method. This is always a challenge when we seek to make allocations in respect of 4,000 schools. It is for this reason that we have also streamlined the review process for Special Education Teachers and schools who feel that they have received an inappropriate allocation can make this application to the NCSE.
The Department is cognisant that it is possible that unique circumstances may present in a school which could require an urgent review. In such circumstances, the school may apply for this process through the NCSE. Reviews will be conducted by the NCSE, between March and May each year, to better enable schools to plan for the following September.
Appendix 1 of Circular 002/2024 & 003/2024 clarifies what constitutes unique circumstances and provides further information on the SET Review process.
Application forms for schools to apply for a SET Review will be available on the NCSE website from the week commencing the 19th February 2024.The NCSE will begin accepting applications for SET Reviews on the 1st March 2024 with a closing date for applications of SET Reviews on the 22nd March. Schools must submit their completed application forms through the online portal on the NCSE website.
