Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2005
521 Mr. O’Shea asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that a school (details supplied) in County Waterford will have one full-time SEN teacher less in 2006 under the new arrangements than it had during the present school year (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20646/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school in question is included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and the Giving Children an Even Break programme. Under the disadvantaged areas scheme, the school benefits from an additional ex-quota teaching post, additional capitation grants of €38.09per capita, a refund of the television licence fee and eligibility for 95% building grants for building projects. Designated disadvantaged schools are included in the home school community liaison scheme and the school has access to the services of a shared home school community liaison co-ordinator. Under the urban dimension of Giving Children an Even Break, the school benefits from supplementary funding to provide additional educational supports for pupils who are considered to be at risk of educational disadvantage and early school leaving. The level of funding provided under the scheme is commensurate with the number of “at risk” pupils in the school, which is not considered to be eligible for additional teaching staff under the scheme, based on the level of concentration of “at risk” pupils within its enrolment.
A new general allocation scheme has been announced under which schools will be given resource teaching hours based on their enrolment figures to cater for children with high incidence special needs such as dyslexia and those with learning support needs. The introduction of the new system will involve the provision of an estimated additional 340 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 and to ensure continuity of service for children who have previously been given an individual allocation until they leave the primary school system.
The general allocation for the school in question is two teaching posts and five part-time hours. The school may also be entitled to retain part-time hours under transitional arrangements to cater for the needs of individual pupils with high incidence special educational needs until they leave the school. I can confirm that the school's resource teaching allocation under the new scheme is based on its status as a girls' school — the first post is allocated at 195:1. Schools whose allocations are based on 80:1 are disadvantaged schools which are specifically eligible for additional staffing under the urban dimension of the Giving Children an Even Break scheme. The school is ineligible for such additional staffing and does not qualify for the special 80:1 ratio for resource teacher allocation.
The new action plan for educational inclusion, Delivering Equality Of Opportunity In Schools, which I launched recently, provides for a standardised system for identifying levels of disadvantage and a new integrated school support programme that will bring together and build on a number of existing interventions for schools with a concentrated level of disadvantage. The new action plan will be introduced on a phased basis, starting in the next school year, and will involve an additional annual investment of €40 million on full implementation. It will also involve the provision of some 300 additional posts across the education system.
A key element of the new action plan is the better identification of levels of disadvantage in schools, which will result in improved targeting of resources at those most in need. The first stage of the identification process, which is being conducted on behalf of the Department of Education and Science by the educational research centre, is under way. Questionnaires were issued to all mainstream primary schools and were due to be returned to the centre by 31 May 2005. The identification process is being supported by an advisory group that includes representation from the INTO and the Irish Primary Principals' Network. Approximately 600 primary schools, comprising 300 urban and 300 rural primary schools and 150 post-primary schools will be included in the school support programme. Existing schemes and programmes will be integrated into the school support programme on a phased basis over the implementation period.
522 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason there has been a change in the criteria for supporting a resource teacher to a school (details supplied) in County Offaly from one resource teacher per 80 pupils to one resource teacher per 135 pupils with the resulting loss of 60% of a teaching post; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this has happened in a school that has all boys and has designated disadvantaged status. [20669/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school in question never had an allocation of one resource teacher for every 80 pupils as the Deputy suggests. It is included in the disadvantaged areas scheme and the Giving Children an Even Break programme. Under the disadvantaged areas scheme the school benefits from an additional ex-quota teaching post, additional capitation grants of €38.09per capita, a refund of the television licence fee and eligibility for 95% building grants for building projects. Designated disadvantaged schools are included in the home school community liaison scheme and the school has access to the services of a shared home school community liaison co-ordinator. Under the urban dimension of Giving Children an Even Break, the school benefits from supplementary funding to provide additional educational supports for pupils who are considered to be at risk of educational disadvantage and early school leaving. The level of funding provided under the scheme is commensurate with the number of “at risk” pupils in the school. The school is not considered eligible for additional teaching staff under the scheme, based on the level of concentration of at risk pupils within its enrolment.
A new general allocation scheme has been announced under which schools will be given resource teaching hours based on their enrolment figures to cater for children with high incidence special needs such as dyslexia and those with learning support needs. The introduction of the new system will involve the provision of an estimated additional 340 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 and to ensure continuity of service for children who have previously been given an individual allocation until they leave the primary school system.
The general allocation for the school in question is one teaching post and ten part-time hours. The school may also be entitled to retain part-time hours under transitional arrangements to cater for the needs of individual pupils with high incidence special educational needs until they leave the school. I can confirm that the school's resource teaching allocation under the new scheme is based on its status as a boys' school — the first post is allocated at 135:1. Schools whose allocations are based on 80:1 are disadvantaged schools which are specifically eligible for additional staffing under the urban dimension of the Giving Children an Even Break scheme. The school is not eligible for such additional staffing and so does not qualify for the special 80:1 ratio for resource teacher allocation.
523 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the extreme difficulties that will be experienced at a school (details supplied) in County Limerick as a result of the new general allocation system and that it means that a teacher will be presenting in this school for 30 minutes and then returning to the base school; if she will review this system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20670/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe records of the Department of Education and Science show that, based on an enrolment of 134 pupils, the school in question received a general allocation of one teaching post to be based in the school. Consequently, I am not clear from the question what difficulties this presents for the school. It is open to the school to liaise with the Department about the matter.
524 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science when a resource teacher will be appointed at a school (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20671/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Department of Education and Science has issued a letter to all primary schools notifying them of their teaching allocation under the new general allocation model for the 2005-06 school year. The letter also includes details of any clustering arrangements that may apply. I can confirm that the school in question has received a teaching allocation of 12.5 part-time hours. It has been clustered with another school in the area, in which the teaching post to be shared between the schools will be based. Responsibility for the recruitment and appointment of the teacher in question is a matter for the management authorities of the base school.
