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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004

Thursday, 28 October 2004

Ceisteanna (343, 344, 345, 346)

Beverley Flynn

Ceist:

340 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason special needs children who are receiving help from a health board prior to going to primary school are not automatically entitled to resource hours or special assistance when they attend school. [26510/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Decisions regarding the most appropriate model of educational response for children with special educational needs, SEN, are based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual child and in the context of the criteria outlined in the relevant Department circulars. A child's SEN may be capable of being met from within a school's existing special education teaching complement or it may involve additional resources being provided to the school.

I recently announced my intention to review the proposed new mechanism for allocating teaching support to schools. The intention is to ensure that the mechanism provides an automatic response for pupils with common mild learning disabilities without the need for cumbersome individual applications, while at the same time ensuring that pupils currently in receipt of service continue to receive the level of service appropriate to their needs. The review will involve consultation with educational interests and the National Council for Special Education before the new arrangements are implemented.

John McGuinness

Ceist:

341 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the supports and services that are available in County Carlow for persons with autism; the autism specific schools that are available in County Carlow; the funding allocated to this group; and her future plans for the services in the county. [26511/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Every effort is made to ensure that children with special educational needs, including children with autistic spectrum disorders, receive an education appropriate to their needs. Decisions regarding the most appropriate model of response in each particular case are based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual child.

In the Carlow area, some children with autism are attending mainstream schools on a fully integrated basis, with the support of resource teaching and special needs assistant support, as appropriate. St. Lazarian's special school also caters for a number of children on the autistic spectrum. In addition, my Department has been actively investigating the development of additional educational services for children with autism in the Carlow area in consultation with existing education providers and this process is continuing. No funding has been allocated to any particular group in the Carlow area by my Department in the context of autism provision other than the normal resources made available to schools who are catering for pupils with autism.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

342 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools that will lose resources for pupils with special educational needs as a result of the proposed introduction of a weighted system as per circular SP ED 09/04; the number that will gain resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26513/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

I am conscious of difficulties that could arise with the proposed mechanism for allocating resource teachers to primary schools, particularly for children in small and rural schools, if it were implemented as currently proposed. Accordingly, I will be reviewing the proposed model to ensure that it provides an automatic response for pupils with common mild learning disabilities without the need for cumbersome individual applications, while at the same time ensuring that pupils currently in receipt of service continue to receive the level of service appropriate to their needs. The review will involve consultation with educational interests and the National Council for Special Education before it is implemented next year. It would not be possible to provide the information sought pending the outcome of the review.

Jan O'Sullivan

Ceist:

343 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has evidence that the schools that will lose resources under the new weighted system of special needs allocation have a reduction of need with regard to the pupils attending their schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26514/04]

Amharc ar fhreagra

I am conscious of difficulties that could arise with the proposed mechanism for allocating resource teachers to primary schools, particularly for children in small and rural schools, if it were implemented as currently proposed. Accordingly, I will be reviewing the proposed model to ensure that it provides an automatic response for pupils with common mild learning disabilities without the need for cumbersome individual applications, while at the same time ensuring that pupils currently in receipt of service continue to receive the level of service appropriate to their needs. The review will involve consultation with educational interests and the National Council for Special Education before it is implemented next year.

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