Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 November 2015
934. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of plans to include Down's syndrome on the list of disabilities in all National Council for Special Education literature and applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37527/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has recommended the introduction of a new resource allocation model for schools, which will allow schools to allocate resources to pupils taking into account their individual learning needs, as opposed to being based primarily on a diagnosis of a particular disability.
A pilot of this new resource allocation model is currently taking place in a number of schools.
Pending the full implementation of the proposed new model for allocating resource teachers to schools, I agreed to review the particular position in relation to educational provision for children with Down syndrome in mainstream schools.
On 24 March of this year, I 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 National Council for Special Education's (NCSE) annual allocation process.
I advised that this measure was being introduced in recognition of the length of time it will take to introduce the new resource teacher 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.
Details of the manner in which schools can apply for additional resources for children with Down syndrome is available on the NCSE website at http://ncse.ie/for-schools.
As my Department is continuing to develop the new allocation model for schools, consideration of the content of any new supporting literature and guidance for schools will take place as part of this process.
