Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 June 2004

Wednesday, 30 June 2004

Ceisteanna (14)

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

76 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science his plans for special needs assistants in national schools in the context of his announcement of 18 June 2004 and of circular SP ED 09/04; if there are changes in the way in which the special needs assistants are applied for and allocated; if those currently in such posts will be reappointed in September 2004; if he will allow flexibility to schools that cannot provide reports in time for the application of the deadline of 30 June 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19622/04]

Freagraí ó Béal (5 píosaí cainte)

Mr. N. Dempsey

Schools which have applied for special needs assistant support will be advised of the outcome of their applications as soon as possible in advance of the next school year. Account is being taken of existing levels of special needs assistant support allocation in schools. In cases where a reduction in the level of special needs assistant support is proposed, there will be provision for schools to appeal, having regard to the care needs of the pupils concerned. Details of the appeals mechanism will be set out in a communication to schools.

Special needs assistants may be approved to support a pupil who has a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where their behaviour is such that they are a danger to themselves or other pupils. The criteria used for the assessment of the need for special needs assistant support is outlined in my Department's circular 07/02.

My Department continues to review the existing arrangements for the allocation of special educational supports to primary schools. The basic purpose of the review is to ensure that each school has the level of resources required to cater for its pupils with special educational needs. I am anxious to ensure that special education support services are properly targeted at the children who require them and that the substantially increased resources, which are being made available in the special educational area have the desired effect of ensuring that all children assessed as having special needs receive the support they require.

Since 1998, the number of special needs assistants in primary schools has grown from about 300 to in excess of 5,500 full-time and part-time assistants. Special needs assistants posts will be retained in schools where there is a continuing care need in accordance with circular 07/02.

My Department recognises the difficulties some schools have experienced while awaiting the outcome of applications for special educational resources and the introduction of the weighted model. The process has been complex and time-consuming and I am endeavouring to have all aspects completed as quickly as possible. I acknowledge the co-operation and support of schools in this regard.

Ms O’Sullivan

Is the Minister aware of the concern in many schools about this issue, given that this circular only arrived in many schools on the last day of term? He stated that action will be taken as soon as possible before the school year but how does he expect schools to deal with this issue before September so they can appoint staff? How can parents decide if they can send their child to the local school when they do not know if there will be a special needs assistant?

Did the Minister receive the 14 questions from the Irish Primary Principals Network on this issue and will he respond to them? Are primary principals supposed to work through the summer to address these issues while the Department is making its decisions? Will the Minister allow schools to retain part-time special needs assistants and resource teachers next year while the system is changing over? This is very difficult for schools and they are unsure what will happen in September.

Is the Minister aware of the problems for schools with between 60 and 100 pupils that are losing hours under the circular on resource teachers? I spoke to a resource teacher who works in two schools and her hours have fallen from 17 to ten per week in each of the schools. Will the Minister make things easier for the schools?

Mr. N. Dempsey

This question deals with special needs assistants and a later question deals with resource teachers. I understand the difficulties schools might have in both cases and I would have liked to have been in a position to have done all of this much earlier. I would have preferred to have both the special educational needs resources and the special needs assistants dealt with but it was complex and time consuming and used up most of the time available to the special education section of the Department, a considerable amount of NEPS time and time of the administrative section of the Department and the inspectorate. All of them worked hard to come up with a system that would be fair to everyone.

It was not possible to deal with the special needs assistant question at the same time and that is why we are now concentrating on that area. Schools can keep the special needs assistants if they can prove they have a need for them.

Ms O’Sullivan

Will they be able to keep them while the decision is pending?

Mr. N. Dempsey

The decision will be made as soon as possible in advance of the next school year. Over the next few weeks, schools will be told about their allocations for the school year 2004-05. They will know their allocation of special needs teachers in advance of the next school year.