Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am aware that no school will have its hours cut. My point is that there is no flexibility and there are no additional resources for children. The fact of the matter is that children will lose out because of the manner in which schools will have their resources fixed for two years under the new model. It is extremely worrying that some relevant features, such as the inclusion support service and the model for identification of future complex needs, have not yet been put in place. The Minister needs to take this on board. I know from the response to a parliamentary question I have received this morning that 519 schools have appealed their allocations under this model. This figure is evidence that there are concerns that need to be addressed. It is vital for us to get this right, especially given that the resources to be allocated to a school in two years' time will be based on its current profile. Things are changing quickly. The upcoming admissions legislation needs to ensure children with special educational needs can access their local schools. At the same time, we are introducing a model that fixes the resources given to schools to cater for special educational needs. Will the Minister advise the House of the circumstances in which schools will be provided with additional resource hours that are clearly needed? Does he intend to establish the inclusion support service? Will resource teachers be available to schools under this service?

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