Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2015
822. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children diagnosed with Down's syndrome who are attending mainstream primary schools this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20034/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra823. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children diagnosed with Down's syndrome who are attending mainstream secondary schools this year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20035/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra828. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children diagnosed with Down's syndrome who were attending mainstream primary schools in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20040/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra829. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children diagnosed with Down's syndrome who were attending mainstream secondary schools in 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20041/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra834. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children diagnosed with Down's syndrome who were attending mainstream primary schools in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20046/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra835. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of children diagnosed with Down's syndrome who were attending mainstream secondary schools in 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20047/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 822, 823, 828, 829, 834 and 835 together.
All children with Down's syndrome had previously been entitled to receive additional teaching support either through the General Allocation systems, if the child had mild general learning difficulties, or if they had an additional low incidence disability, as set out in my Departments Circular 02/05, through an additional allocation to schools by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced that additional resources will be allocated to schools, as an interim measure, to support those children with Down syndrome, who are not already supported through the (NCSE) low incidence resource teaching annual allocation process.
As Down's syndrome had not previously been designated as a distinct category for resource allocation purposes, it is not possible to state the number of children who have been diagnosed with Down's syndrome who are attending main stream education this year, or the number who attended mainstream schools in previous years.
On introducing the recently announced new measure, I advised that this measure was being introduced in recognition of the length of time it will take to introduce the new resource teacher allocation model and also in recognition of the fact that children with Down syndrome may experience a cluster of difficulties relating to this syndrome, in addition to general learning difficulties, including speech and language developmental delays. Under the interim measure schools will receive 2.5 resource teacher hours per week for each qualifying child. This new allocation means there will now be certainty regarding the provision which will be made for children with Down's syndrome with a Mild General Learning Difficulty.
The National Council for Special Education's (NCSE) has advised that 165 valid applications have been received from schools to date, in respect of children with Down syndrome, not already supported through the NCSE annual allocation process. However, the allocation process for the 2015/16 school year has not concluded and additional applications may also be received under any second round application process.
