Special Educational Needs Staff

Tuesday, 8 December 2015

Ceisteanna (504)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

504. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the pilot scheme for the allocation of extra teachers to schools for pupils with special education needs, including the schools that qualified and the number of teachers allocated to each school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43803/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I understand that the Deputy is referring to the pilot scheme of a new model for delivering teaching resources to schools to support students with special needs, which is currently under way.

The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) recommended the development of a new model for delivering teaching resources to schools to support students with special needs. It recommended that a school's Special Needs Teaching allocation should be determined by a baseline component according to pupil numbers and a school's educational profile. This profile is to take account of the number of pupils with complex needs, the percentage of pupils performing below average in standardised tests and the social context and gender breakdown of the school.

The NCSE Working Group report recommended sufficient time be allowed for consultation before the new model is implemented. A pilot of the new allocation model is therefore taking place over the course of the current school year.

47 schools (28 primary schools and 19 posts primary schools) have agreed to participate in the pilot project, which will run for the duration of the current school year. An initial list of schools was selected by the Educational Research Centre, using sampling techniques designed to ensure that as full a range of schools as possible is represented. For primary schools the sample included appropriate representation by disadvantaged classification, gender mix and size. For post-primary schools the sample included appropriate representation by sector, disadvantage classification, gender mix and size. A list of schools was generated within each of these categories, along with replacements for first-selected schools.

The pilot will test the practical impacts of the new model prior to full implementation. Significant guidance has been prepared and provided to the schools involved. During the Pilot all participating schools will complete an assessment questionnaire to gather information on their experiences. All participating schools attended a pilot information day on 15th September and a further information day took place on Friday last.

A list of the schools participating in the pilot project and details of the support teaching allocation which has been made for each school is attached. Please note, the allocations noted for each school represent the total allocations made to the school under the pilot project. These allocations therefore replace the allocations usually made to schools through learning support general allocations and the NCSE allocation process, but are not allocations made additionally to these allocations.

Appendix 1: Schools Participating in Pilot Project 2015/16

Primary Schools

Roll_ Number	Name of School	County	DEIS	School Gender	Allocation (Hours)
20231H	St. Benedict's National School	Dublin		Mixed	237.5
19583I	St. Josephs Senior NS, Ballymun	Dublin	DEIS 1	Mixed	125
15046I	St. Stephen's National School	Waterford	DEIS 2	Boys	155
18057F	Scoil Mhuire	Offaly		Senior Girls	157.5
20292E	Maynooth Educate Together	Kildare		Mixed	87.5
16928B	Scoil Náisiúnta Naomh Philom	Offaly	DEIS 2	Girls	55
198460	Reath na Maidine	Kerry		Boys	110
15948C	Clologue National School	Wexford		Mixed	27.5
20309S	Mary Mother of Hope	Dublin		Mixed	145
03936C	Scoil Náisiúnta (Scoil Mhuire)	Westmeath		Mixed	27.5
17493U	Rosenallis National School	Laois		Mixed	27.5
19490B	Scoil Mhuire	Dublin	DEIS 1	Mixed	110
17840P	SN Bheinin Naofa	Meath		Girls	70
19837N	Drimnagh Castle CBS NS	Dublin		Boys	305
17903N	Cornamaddy NS	Westmeath		Mixed	115
13632L	Annalitten National School	Monaghan		Mixed	13.4
18246I	SN Baile Mhuine	Cork		Mixed	13.4
17920N	Donard National School	Wicklow		Mixed	40.3
16829W	Scoil Eoin Pól (Lough an Iubhair)	Donegal	DEIS R	Mixed	14.250
18350D	Scoil Náisiúnta Na Hinse	Tipperary		Mixed	29.875
18598Q	Earnain Mxd NS	Westmeath		Mixed	33.50
15257V	Quignamanger National School/St Oliver Plunket	Mayo		Mixed	103.07
19418Q	Castlerahan Central National S	Cavan		Mixed	56.775
19817H	St. Marys NS Lucan	Dublin		Mixed	128.075
02413L	Scoil Naomh Eoin, Birr	Offaly		Mixed	40.4
16289Q	St.. John's NS	Mayo		Mixed	26.90
14625T	Doon Convent NS	Limerick		Mixed	36.90
20260o	Gaelscoil Chluainin	Leitrim		Mixed	38

Post Primary Schools

Roll_ number	Name of Schools	sector	County	DEIS	School Gender	Allocation Hours
70250S	Marino College	Vocational	Dublin	Yes	Mixed	132.5
60480G	Drimnagh Castle Secondary (Meanscoil Iognaid Ris)	Secondary	Dublin	No	Boys	197.5
71450I	Mullingar Community School	Vocational	Westmeath	Yes	Mixed	135
65370B	St. Joseph's C.B.S	Secondary	Tipperary	No	Boys	105
91505T	St Wolstan's Community School (Girls).	Comm/Comp	Kildare	No	Girls	77.5
60400F	St Vincents	Secondary	Dublin	Yes	Boys	85
70620C	Coláiste Cois Siúire	Vocational	Kilkenny	Yes	Mixed	45
60710U	Muckross Park College	Secondary	Dublin	No	Girls	95
70960D	Coachford College	Vocational	Cork	No	Mixed	107.5
64971W	Our Lady Of Mercy Secondary School	Secondary	Waterford	No	Girls	83.45
62000W	Mary Immaculate Secondary School	Secondary	Clare	No	Mixed	46.525
91500J	Loreto Community School	Comm/Comp	Donegal	No	Mixed	164.075
64610N	St.. Colman's College	Secondary	Mayo	No	Boys	88.325
61340S	St. Bridgids Secondary School	Secondary	Kerry	No	Girls	108.825
70400L	Borris Vocational	Vocational	Carlow	No	Mixed	97.550
61320M	Coláiste Bhréanainn	Secondary	Kerry	No	Mixed	151.4
76102K	Gaelcolaiste an Eachreidh	Vocational	Galway	No	Mixed	75.825
72020L	Moyne College Ballina	Vocational	Mayo		Mixed	182.275
68077S	Ardscoil na Trionode	Secondary	Kildare		Mixed	127.05