Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2015
897. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when her Department will sanction the low incidence hours for children with Down's syndrome to schools; if schools entitled to these hours will be granted 100% of the low incidence hours, or the reduced allocation rate of 85% of allocated hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20584/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
All children with Down 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).
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 the fact that children with Down syndrome 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 syndrome with a Mild General Learning Difficulty.
However, this new allocation does not constitute a new category of Low Incidence resource teaching hours. Rather it is a specific allocation which will assist schools to support pupils with Down syndrome who do not currently qualify for Low Incidence resource teaching hours, pending the introduction of the new allocation model.
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. 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.
