Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 December 2004
239 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if a special needs assistant will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33625/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department sanctioned a full time special needs assistant for the pupil concerned. The school authorities were notified on 25 November 2004.
240 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to review the allocation of resource hours to a school (details supplied) in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33626/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposed new system of teacher allocation involves a general allocation to all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher-incidence special educational needs, that is, pupils with borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability. The allocation is also intended to support those with learning support needs, that is, those functioning at or below the tenth percentile on a standardised test of reading and/or mathematics. An additional 350 teacher posts are being provided to facilitate the introduction of the new system.
I am conscious of difficulties that could arise in relation to this model, particularly for children in small and rural schools, if it were implemented as currently proposed. Accordingly, I am having the proposed model reviewed 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 representative interests and the National Council for Special Education before it is implemented next year.
I should emphasise that individual applications may continue to be made for specific resource teacher allocations in respect of pupils with lower-incidence special educational needs.
241 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she intends to review the clustering allocation under the weighted system for schools in clusters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33627/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am conscious of difficulties that could arise in relation to the proposed new model of resource teaching provision, particularly for children in small and rural schools, if it were implemented as currently proposed.
Accordingly, I will be reviewing the proposed model, including the clustering arrangements associated with the 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.
