Vol. 490 No. 7
25 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the statutory obligation to be placed on schools to provide suitable education for pupils who present themselves to a school, he will establish a special fund which schools can draw down in accordance with identified needs of these pupils. [11104/98]
The Education (No. 2) Bill, when enacted, will provide a framework for the administration of the education system at first and second levels. In particular, the Bill sets out clearly: the duty of the Minister to provide funding for recognised schools; to provide support services for students, including students with special education needs; the duty of schools, having regard to the constitutional rights of all concerned, to establish an admissions policy which provides for maximum accessibility to the school and the duty of the Minister to set out in each year criteria by which schools are to be funded in the following year. The criteria for funding may allow for the payment of extra moneys to a school having regard to the level of educational disadvantage experienced by the students in the school.
I and my officials have consulted a wide range of interests since the Bill was published last December. While the Bill has, generally, been very well received, a number of concerns remain. Particular concerns have been expressed that the Bill is seeking to transfer to schools the Minister's duty to provide an education for children. As far as students with special needs are concerned, concern has been expressed that the Bill does not provide clearly enough for appeals by parents in the event of schools refusing to enrol students with special needs.
I am currently considering the issues raised and intend to propose some amendments to the Bill which, I am confident, will address these concerns. I hope to publish my proposals in this regard over the next few days.
I remind Deputies also that the major part of the funding of schools is already met by the State which meets most of the capital cost of schools, through the provision of capital grants, much of the running costs of schools, through capitation grants, and the full costs of teacher salaries. Enhanced rates of capitation grants are payable in the case of schools designated as disadvantaged.
Where children with special needs are concerned, a range of special measures are already in place. The measures in question involve additional staffing allocations and special funding allocations. The precise nature of the supports provided is largely dictated by the needs of the individual child.
In many cases, special needs children are capable of functioning in a fully integrated environment, with the help where necessary of the remedial or resource teacher service. To the extent that such children have additional special equipment needs, the Department can make funding available out of a special fund established for this purpose. Where the needs of the child are such as to require placement in a special school or special class attached to an ordinary school, the special equipment fund is also available to meet their special needs. In addition, children attending special schools and special classes attract special increased rates of capitation funding. The rates in question have been more than tripled in the last few years.
The State also provides a wide range of additional funding for education, including funding for the school transport system, funding for clerical and caretaking services, provision of grants for books, and deferral of examination fees in respect of needy pupils.
