Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2004
304 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the reasons for the reduction in the learning support and resource teaching hours from 17 hours per week to six hours per week in a school (details supplied) in Dublin 12; if he expects to improve the education of the children receiving this valuable learning assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20504/04]
Amharc ar fhreagra309 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that as a result of a recent circular regarding the weighting of special education teachers a school (details supplied) will lose eight of the 17 hours previously allocated to it for special needs support; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that this number of hours is even less than the total number of hours allocated by NEPS for individual students; and if, in view of the reduction of special teaching days from five to three at the school he will immediately reinstate the eight teaching hours. [20559/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 309 together.
The school referred to by the Deputy has been recently advised of its teacher allocation under the new weighted system. The advice confirms that the school currently exceeds its entitlement under the weighted system by 11 part-time teaching hours. An additional 350 teacher posts are being provided to facilitate the introduction of the new system. The new system will involve a general weighted allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence special educational needs, for example, those with borderline mild and mild general learning disability, specific learning disability, and also those with learning support needs. It will also allow for individual allocations in respect of pupils with lower incidence special educational needs.
The weighted allocation will be made as follows. In the most disadvantaged schools as per the urban dimension of Giving Children an Even Break, a teacher of pupils with special educational needs will be allocated for every 80 pupils to cater for the subset of pupils with higher incidence special needs; in all boys schools, the ratio will be one teacher for every 140 pupils; in mixed schools, or all girls schools with an enrolment of greater than 30% boys, one for every 150 pupils; and in all girls schools including schools with mixed junior classes but with 30% or less boys overall, one for every 200 pupils.
It is intended that the details of the new model will be set out in a comprehensive circular to issue to schools for the commencement of the new school year. The weighted allocation will enable teaching support to be provided to pupils with higher incidence special educational needs and this will obviate the need for schools to submit individual applications for pupils in the higher incidence categories. Schools may continue to apply for specific teacher allocations in respect of pupils with lower incidence disabilities.
My Department now proposes to devise clusters in respect of allocations to be made under the weighted model. Sanction for the filling of posts will be considered in the context of these clusters and the weighted arrangements. My officials will communicate with schools in this regard before the commencement of the coming school year. My Department has agreed not to redeploy teachers from full-time posts via the panel redeployment process during the current school year. The position in relation to surplus part-time hours currently in the school will be the subject of a further communication when clustering and reallocation arrangements have been finalised.
