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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004

Thursday, 8 July 2004

Ceisteanna (143, 144, 145)

Joe Higgins

Ceist:

137 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that he has decided to allocate special needs teachers to schools rather than to pupils, he also intends to allocate special needs assistants to schools rather than to pupils; and if so, when he intends this to come into effect. [20967/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Future teacher allocations for pupils with special needs will be made in the context of the new weighted system which I announced recently. 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 and 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.

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 the Department's circular 07/02 which may be accessed on my Department's website, www.education.ie, under “Children with Special Needs”.

My Department continues to review 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. 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 posts. I wish to assure the Deputy that special needs assistants posts will be retained in schools where there is a continuing care need in accordance with Circular 07/02.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

138 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science when the assessment of the visiting teaching service for visually impaired children provided by his Department will be complete; when the vacant position in County Mayo will be filled; if the position will be advertised externally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20968/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The matter of the visiting teacher service for the visually impaired is currently under consideration. It is hoped that a decision will be made in the near future regarding appointments.

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

139 Mr. O’Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the application for extra co-operation hours for a school (details supplied) in County Louth. [20969/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

My Department allocates teaching hours to VECs to support the delivery of education programmes in a range of facilities, including special schools. Such allocations are made under the heading of co-operation hours with other institutions. Allocations are made in response to specific applications which are submitted by VECs in advance of the commencement of the school year to which they relate. To date no application for the support referred to by the Deputy has been received in my Department.

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