Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

The criteria for allocating resource teaching support for pupils with special educational needs, including pupils with Down Syndrome, did not change as part of the recent budget announcements.

Primary school pupils with high incidence special educational needs may receive additional teaching support under the terms of the General Allocation System. One of the benefits of the General Allocation System is that it has put teaching resources in place in schools on a more systematic basis. This facilitates flexible and early intervention and gives schools more certainty about their resource levels.

Post-primary schools which have students with special educational needs, and primary schools which have enrolled pupils with low incidence special educational needs, may apply to the National Council for Special Education for additional allocations of resource teaching support. The number of additional teaching hours allocated is dependent on the pupil's special educational needs. I wish to reiterate that pupils with special educational needs including those with Down Syndrome have, and will continue to have, access to additional teaching resources to support their education. However, there is a requirement to make appropriate use of the resources available and along with all other areas of expenditure, provision is dependent on the resources available to the Government.

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