Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 April 2004
320 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science when a decision will be made on an application for SNA hours for a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that the person had such hours in their previous school; the reason these hours or the SNA was not transferred to the new school that they are now attending. [11185/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra321 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, transferred from another school has not had their SNA hours transferred in view of the fact that the person had full hours at their previous school; the reasons the allocated hours and the SNA hours are not transferred; when a decision will be made on the application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11186/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 320 and 321 together.
The pupils referred to are enrolled in a special class for children with autism at the school in question. The staffing for special classes for children with autism, as outlined in the relevant Department circulars, is one teacher at a pupil teacher ratio of 6:1 together with two full-time special needs assistants. The school in question has four classes for children on the autistic spectrum with a total enrolment of 11 pupils in the four classes. These classes currently enjoy significant staffing resources. There are four teachers, 11 special needs assistants, nine full-time and two part-time deployed to cater for the pupils attached to these special classes.
The pupils in question previously attended a mainstream school with a significantly greater pupil-teacher ratio, hence the need for a greater level of individual resource hours and special needs assistant support in that setting. The question of transferring resources arises only where it is considered that there are insufficient resources in the recipient school to cater for a pupil's special educational needs.
322 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the reasons a person (details supplied) in County Kildare has not had his resource hours transferred from his previous school to his new school given that his family has moved to a new home approximately 30 miles from the original school; if he will review his application in regard to SNA hours which did not transfer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11187/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pupil referred to by the Deputy transferred to the school in question in September 2003. My Department received an application for the transfer of special educational needs, SEN, resources with the pupil. As the Deputy will be aware, my Department's inspectorate reviewed the level of SEN resources in the school as part of a sample survey carried out in a number of schools nationally. The National Educational Psychological Service is carrying out a further review of SEN supports required in the school. When this has been completed, a response will issue to the school in respect of the pupil in question and other special needs pupils.
325 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on how he proposes to meet the special education requirements of a school (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that there are six children on the waiting list for special education at the school; and will he approve an additional class for September 2004 for the children involved as they have been assessed as severely dyslexic. [11190/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received applications for special educational resources, SER, from the school referred to by the Deputy. The school has the services of one full-time resource teacher, one part-time resource teacher and one full-time learning support teacher.
SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003, including those made by this school, are being considered. More than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority has been given to cases involving children starting school last September and all 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 allocated for special educational needs within the school.
The arrangements for processing applications received after the 31 August 2003, including those made by this school, 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. I have made arrangements for my officials to investigate the need for an additional special class at the school.
