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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2005

Tuesday, 24 May 2005

Ceisteanna (319, 320, 321, 322)

Olwyn Enright

Ceist:

336 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science when an application for a special needs assistant will be processed for a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16896/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy is aware, the school was advised on 26 August 2004 that the pupil in question did not meet the criteria for special needs assistant, SNA, support as insufficient evidence of care needs existed.

The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which became operational on 1 January 2005, now processes applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports. The NCSE will consider any new application for SNA support that the school may wish to submit when accompanied by relevant additional information, which may not have been to hand at the time of the decision.

My officials have been in contact with the local special educational needs organiser, SENO, who has confirmed that no additional information has been received in this case. If additional information is made available, the SENO will further review the case and notify the school of the outcome.

Pádraic McCormack

Ceist:

337 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding resource teaching for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason dyslexic pupils cannot avail of this service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16897/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

The Deputy has indicated that the pupil in question has a specific learning disability. This disability falls into the high incidence disability category. With regard to teaching supports for pupils within the high incidence category, my Department has now completed its review of the general allocation system of resource teaching support. The new model replaces that which was notified to schools in June 2004, which has been reviewed to take account of difficulties it may have caused for smaller schools.

The introduction of this new system will involve the provision of an estimated 340 additional permanent posts in primary schools from September next. A further 320 posts are being provided on a temporary basis to facilitate the transition to the new system. It is a matter for each school to make arrangements to provide teaching support from its general allocation to those pupils who qualify for such support.

My Department has issued a letter to all primary schools notifying them of their general allocation and their clustering arrangements, if appropriate. The allocation for the school referred to by the Deputy is 0.7 of a post. My Department is also finalising a circular for schools, which will contain detailed information on how the new system will operate. It is intended that this circular will issue before the end of the current school year.

Pat Carey

Ceist:

338 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if appropriate home tuition will be arranged for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16936/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Pat Carey

Ceist:

339 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 will be allocated a place at a school (detail supplied), to address their learning difficulties. [16937/05]

Amharc ar fhreagra

I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 339 together.

The home tuition scheme is primarily intended to provide compensatory instruction for pupils who have a medical ailment that is likely to cause major disruption of their attendance at school. In this context, my Department provides home tuition grants to pupils who cannot attend school at all, or are absent for a significant proportion of the school year. Furthermore, while children are awaiting a suitable educational placement, my Department sanctions home tuition as an interim measure, if appropriate. Home tuition is only intended as an interim measure and my Department considers that school-based education provision is the most appropriate intervention for pupils with special educational needs.

My Department has no record of any application for home tuition for the child referred to by the Deputy. Accordingly, I have asked my officials to issue the necessary form to the parents of the child in question. Any application will be examined on receipt of completed application form.

As the Deputy is aware, enrolment in individual schools is the responsibility of the managerial authority of those schools and my Department does not seek to intervene in decisions made by schools in such matters. My Department's main responsibility is to ensure that schools in an area can, between them, cater for all pupils seeking places. It is open to the parents of the child in question to make an application for enrolment to the Catherine McAuley School. The enrolment of children in the school is a matter for its board of management in accordance with its enrolment policy.

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