Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The number is not fully finalised yet because it is voluntary. Not all those schools may accept it. If they do not, other schools will have to be selected. I do not select the schools; they are selected by an independent body. The idea is to have various types of schools represented, including small schools, big schools, rural schools, urban schools, schools that are in the DEIS programme and schools that are not. That is ongoing.

The pilot is intended to be implemented from next September but the new model will not come into place until we have evaluated the pilot model. We do not intend to change the existing situation for schools that are not in the pilot.

There has been an increase in the number of resource teaching hours. While there is a general increase in the number of students, there has been a greater increase in the number of supports, in resource teaching and in special needs assistants for children with special needs. That increase is greater than the demographic increase.

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