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Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2024

Tuesday, 23 July 2024

Questions (863, 865)

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

863. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education the number of appeals to the National Council for Special Education, by county, and the number of successful appeals over each of the past five years. [33636/24]

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Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

Question:

865. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Education her views on the recent changes to the allocation model for special education. [33638/24]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 863 and 865 together.

Ensuring every child with special education needs has access to appropriate teaching supports is a priority for this government.

Special Education has been prioritised by this government in recent years. This year 26% of the department's budget has been dedicated to providing supports for children with special educational needs.

Data in relation to the number of Special Education Teaching (SET) reviews conducted in the past five years is retained by the NCSE. I have asked the NCSE to provide this data directly to you.

The SET allocation model has been in place since 2017. The department commenced a review of the model in late 2022 which involved consulting with unions, management bodies, including the principal’s representative bodies, and schools to hear their views on the strengths and shortcomings of the allocation model. This feedback was incorporated into the revised model.

The SET model is an allocation model to provide schools with additional teaching hours to support the teaching needs of their students. When the 2017 model was introduced it replaced a diagnosis led model with one based on need. This has not changed for 2024 and the allocation to schools is to support all of the children in school who require some level of additional teaching support.

The allocation model for 2024/25 distributes the total available number of SET 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. Children with complex needs are supported in the model by now using school-level data from standardised tests in order to reflect relative levels of overall needed.

There will be over 14,600 SETs supporting mainstream classes in the 2024/25 school year, which is an increase of 1,000 since the end of the 2021 school year. This is the highest number of SET teachers ever in our schools. Schools were notified of their 2024/25 special education teacher allocations on 6 February 2024.

The department acknowledges that every school is different, and that schools can experience unique circumstances that may be difficult to reflect in any standardised method of allocation. This is always a challenge when making allocations in respect of 4,000 schools.

It is for this reason that the department, working with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) streamlined the review process for SET hours.

The NCSE opened their portal for review applications from schools in March. A total of 159 valid applications for review were received by the NCSE. All of these reviews have been completed.

On completion of the reviews, the NCSE made a recommendation to the department that 136 schools warranted an increased allocation. The NCSE also advised the quantum of the increase required.

In all cases the department accepted the recommendation and advised the NCSE of the approval of the additional hours. The 136 schools received increased allocated hours of 1,242 with increases ranging from 2.5 to 27.5 hours.

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