Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004
250 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has considered the application for resource and special needs assistant hours for a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if he intends to agree to the request. [8748/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received applications for special educational resources, SER, from the school referred to by the Deputy, including an application for the pupil in question. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003, including this application, 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 of these cases were responded to before or soon after 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. 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 resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.
251 Mr. English asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will allocate a person (details supplied) in County Meath one hour per day with the resource teacher in a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8749/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received applications for special educational resources, SER, from the school referred to by the Deputy, including an application for the pupil in question. 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 of these cases were responded to before or soon after 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. 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 resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.
The arrangements for processing applications received after the 31 August 2003, including the application for the pupil in question, will be considered in the context of the outcome of discussions on a weighted system of allocation of resource teaching support. A further communication will be sent to schools in this regard.
252 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of appeals against the awarding of assistant school principal and special duties posts at primary and second level throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8750/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraAppointments to assistant principal and special duties posts are a matter for the authorities of the school concerned. My Department's function is to ensure that the proposed appointee is appropriately qualified for the post in question. As there is no requirement for school authorities to notify my Department where an appeal is lodged, the information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in my Department.
253 Mr. Connolly asked the Minister for Education and Science if the individual breakdown of marks awarded in interviews for teaching posts and school administrative posts are made available to interviewees, as in many other sectors of the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8751/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised by the Deputy is a matter for the relevant school authority or vocational education committee as the employing authority for the posts in question.
