Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 1600: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if, in the context of promoting inclusion of children with special needs in mainstream schools, she will intervene to ensure that the current teaching arrangement in the school is maintained as recommended by the person's psychologist. [1819/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has been operational since 1st January 2005 and is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs supports. I understand that the child in question is in receipt of 5 hours resource teaching support and shared access to a special needs assistant (SNA). In addition to this my Department has recently approved funding to the school for assistive technology for this pupil.

The mainstream staffing of a primary school for a particular school year is determined by reference to the enrolment of the school on the 30th September of the previous school year and by reference to a staffing schedule. This staffing schedule for the current school year 2006/07 is outlined in Primary Circular 0023/2006 which was issued to all primary schools.

The staffing of the school referred to by the Deputy comprises of a Principal and two mainstream class teaching posts, based on an enrolment of 49 pupils at 30th September, 2005. The school also has the services 1 Permanent Learning Support/Resource teacher and 1 Permanent Shared Resource teacher. The Board of Management has submitted a report indicating that there were 44 pupils enrolled in the school on the 30th September 2006. The mainstream staffing of the school for the 2007/08 school year will be determined on that figure and by reference to the staffing schedule for the 2007/2008 school year. I understand that work is currently underway in my Department on the preparation of the schedule which, when finalised, will issue to all primary schools.