Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2004
184 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will extend the closing date for the submission of reports for additional resources and learning support for schools from 30 June 2004. [21172/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no plans to extend the closing date of 30 June 2004 for the receipt of applications for special education resources, SER. This closing date covers SER applications received in my Department during the period 1 September 2003 to 30 June 2004.
Applications received within the above timeframe are currently being processed and the outcome will be notified to schools before the commencement of the 2004-05 school year. The teacher support element of applications will be made in the context of a 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, 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.
185 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science the procedures which will be put in place following the recent circular allocating resource and learning support in schools to ensure that pupils requiring learning support are not given a lower priority by the schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21173/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am satisfied that the new weighted model of teacher allocation for pupils with special educational and learning support needs will significantly improve the level of service provided for such pupils. To facilitate the introduction of the new system, an additional 350 posts are being made available. This will bring the total number of such posts for pupils with low achievement and special educational needs to almost 4,500.
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. The Department will communicate with schools in this regard before the commencement of the coming school year.
