I can confirm that applications for resource teaching support for pupils with special needs have been received from the school referred to by the Deputy.
The Deputy may be aware that my Department has recently developed a new weighted system for the allocation of teaching supports to pupils with special needs. An additional 350 teacher posts are being provided to facilitate the introduction of the new system. This system will involve general weighted allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence special educational needs, that is, 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.
This new system will allow resources to be speedily allocated to pupils with disabilities on the basis of school based assessment.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the needs of the pupils in the school in question can be accommodated within existing resources.