Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 March 2004
205 Mr. Ardagh asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will resource the allocation of a full-term learning support teacher as requested by the parents association of a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [7097/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school in question currently has the services of a shared learning support teacher. My Department is currently reviewing existing arrangements for the allocation of special educational supports to primary schools. In that context, my officials have initiated discussions on the matter with representative interests. At this stage, it would be premature to anticipate the outcome. I can confirm, however, that the basic purpose of that review is to ensure that each school has the level of resources required to cater for its pupils with special educational needs.
206 Mr. Ardagh asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the application, already submitted for additional resource teacher hours for a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [7098/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department has received applications for special educational resource, SER, from the school referred to by the Deputy. The school in question has the services of two full-time resource teachers and one part-time resource teacher.
SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. In all, more than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September and all these cases were responded to at or before the commencement of the current school year.
The balance of more than 4,000 applications has been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. These applications are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year or so. Account is also being taken of the data submitted by schools as part of the recent nationwide census of SER provision.
The processing of the applications is a complex and time-consuming operation. However, my Department is endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible and my officials will then respond to all applicant schools. Pending a response, schools are advised to refer to Circular 24/03, which issued in September 2003. This circular contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resource already allocated for special educational needs within the school.
207 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the progress of the school for autism in Middletown, County Armagh. [7099/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is intended that the facility in question will be purchased, funded and operated on a joint North-South basis to serve the needs of children and young persons with autism in both jurisdictions.
The purchase cost involved is £3 million sterling. Precise details of the annual operating costs will not be available until final decisions have been taken on the required level of specialist inputs involved in the various elements of the centre's activities. However, current estimates suggest an overall annual operating cost of approximately €2 million. No funding has been expended to date on the project.
Proposals for the centre envisage the following: an educational assessment service for children and young people referred to the centre with a suspected or confirmed autistic spectrum disorder; a training and advisory service for teachers, other professionals and parents; an individual learning centre; an autism research, dissemination and information service; and residential accommodation with care staff.
The proposed centre at Middleton will not replace any existing service provision for children with autism. Rather, it will complement existing services by providing specialist back-up support, advice and guidance on best practice to service providers North and South. The final terms of the purchase contract are currently under discussion with the owners of the facility.
