Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2010
169 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the total number of children recorded with attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Asperger’s and autism; the extent to which the full requirement in respect of remedial, resource or other special teaching requirements are being met, nationally and on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41680/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra170 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the total number of children with special needs teaching requirements currently recorded in each county throughout the country; the number of such requirements currently being met; her plans to meet the full requirement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41681/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra171 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the number of special needs school places provided for on a county basis throughout the country in each of the past five years and to date in 2010; the likely requirements and provision over the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41682/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 169, 170 and 171 together.
Each national school has an allocation of learning support/resource teacher hours to assist schools in making appropriate provision for pupils with learning difficulties and high incidence special educational needs. Each post-primary school has an allocation of learning support teaching hours. It is a matter for school authorities to determine how these hours are utilised to support eligible pupils. My Department does not hold details of the percentage of students being supported through this mechanism. However, it can be assumed generally that pupils who perform at or below the 10th percentile on a standardised test of reading and/or mathematics would qualify for such support. Pupils with more significant needs may qualify for additional teaching and special needs assistant support through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The Deputy will also be aware that the NCSE is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support students with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
Additional teaching and SNA supports are allocated as necessary by the NCSE in line with my Department's policy to support children with special educational needs. Additional teaching resources are sanctioned by the NCSE in respect of all eligible schools.
The NCSE has advised my Department that additional resource teaching hours were in place in schools in the 09/10 school year in respect of over 34,000 pupils. A county by county breakdown of these hours is not readily available in my Department.
There are currently over 9,000 resource and learning support teachers employed in mainstream schools, over 500 teachers in special classes and over 1,100 special school teachers.
As the number of special needs school places would include those in receipt of learning support, it is not possible for my Department to advise of the number of school places allocated for children with special educational needs. I have arranged for a list of all special classes and special schools to be sent to the Deputy.
