Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 June 2005
552 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the way in which the general allocation system will affect the resources available to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in mainstream school. [21049/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, a new general allocation scheme has been announced under which schools will be provided with 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 this new system will involve the provision of an estimated additional 340 permanent posts in primary schools from September next. A further 320 posts will be 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 those children leave the primary school system.
The posts being provided under the new general allocation scheme are designed to ensure each school has enough resource teaching hours to meet the needs of children with high incidence special needs such as dyslexia and children with learning support needs. Resource teaching hours for children with low incidence special needs such as hearing impaired will continue to be provided on the basis of an individual application for each child. It is a matter for each school to determine the pupils with high incidence special education and learning support needs that will receive this support.
Each school will have enough resource teaching hours to provide its pupils with support appropriate to their needs. The school can then use its professional judgement to decide how these hours are divided between different children in the school to ensure all their needs are met. Research shows that some children with special needs respond better with one-to-one tuition. Others, however, do better when taught in small groups. Often it is best for resource teachers to work with children in the classroom rather than taking them away to a separate room, as the children then have to catch up work done by the rest of the class in their absence. The response needed depends on the child. The school in question has been allocated one full-time post and 2.5 part-time hours under the general allocation system.
553 Mr. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if she has investigated the shortage of appropriate places for the education of children with special needs on Dublin’s northside; and the options which are open for a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [21068/05]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently and which has been operational since 1 January 2005, is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports and deciding on the level of support appropriate to the school. A total of 71 special educational needs organisers, SENOs, have been recruited throughout the country and will be a focal point of contact for schools and parents. My officials have been advised by the NCSE that the local SENO has made contact with the parent of the pupil in question regarding his placement in a special school in September 2005 and contact has been made with a school in this regard. A decision from the school will issue to the parents shortly.
