Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 October 2014
110. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to concerns in respect of proposals to change the system of allocating teaching resources to schools to support children with special education needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39406/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published its Report on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teachers for Students with Special Educational Needs on 18 June 2014.
The NCSE, consulted widely with education partners, representatives of the disability sector, stakeholders and parent representative groups, during the course of the development of this policy advice.
The report recommends that a new allocation model should be developed, based on a schools educational profile, while providing a baseline allocation to every mainstream school to support inclusion.
My Department is currently collecting information which will be required to develop the proposed new model.
Following publication of the working group report, my Department invited education partners, stakeholders, and parent representative groups to make written submissions in relation to the NCSE report. 26 written submissions have been received to date, from interested parties.
My Department also held a number of consultation meetings on 1st and 3rd October last with stakeholders, education partners, and parent representative groups.
Consultation has been a key feature of the development of this policy advice to date and I can confirm that consultation will continue to take place at each stage of the development of proposals for any new model.
