James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me time to debate this important issue, namely, the need for the Minister for Education and Skills to reverse cutbacks which are impacting adversely on young adults with special needs at St. Brigid's school, Mullingar, County Westmeath. This school is suffering from changes of services, coupled with staff reductions, which have directly affected the quality of education available for students. The valuable work carried out by the teachers and pupils is being further undermined by the refusal of the Department of Education and Skills to upgrade current substandard facilities, especially in the built environment. The dreaded word in education is "cutbacks". For St. Brigid's school it is especially heartbreaking as the work they carry out with children and young adults with special needs is, by its very nature, dependent on a reasonable level of staffing and adequate resources.

It says it all that an educational establishment should tell me that it feels as though its pupils are less valued than their mainstream peers. Should pupils with special needs not be entitled to special care and provision by the Department of Education and Skills? Dedicated, extremely talented and hard working staff can only do so much, and, believe me, the personnel at St. Brigid's give above and beyond the call of duty. However, if the official backup and support is missing, it makes for an uphill struggle. At present, 80% of the pupils at St. Brigid's have not had their much-needed psychological assessments which are essential to access the appropriate response and resources needed. These reviews are sourced through the Department of Education and Skills and, owing to the lack of such assessment, the school is receiving services on a crisis basis only. This fails to meet the ever-growing and complex needs of the pupils. St. Brigid's has nine classes with nine class teachers, 12 special needs assistants, SNAs, and 81 students who need much greater provision, especially in terms of special assistance. Pupils at the school include those with mild or moderate general learning difficulties, severe behavioural difficulties, sensory impairments, both visual and hearing, physical disabilities and autism. These diverse educational needs cannot be met without enhanced support by the Department. A high level of professional frustration is felt by the staff as they struggle to meet these needs with limited resources.

St. Brigid's primarily serves students from Longford and Westmeath, with some travelling from counties Meath, Roscommon and Offaly. The school's motto is "to learn, to love, to live", with student successes celebrated by fellow students, parents, teachers, principal, staff and the board of management. If pride in achievement were the only requirement, St. Brigid's would have no problems. Unfortunately, practical resources are essential to the continued success of this school. This school is an integral part of Mullingar and the surrounding areas. Its pupils are part of the community, which gives them great support. It is time, however, that the Government matched that support and goodwill. Apparently, in the view of the Department of Education and Skills, a school cannot be both special and disadvantaged at the same time. However, both descriptions are equally relevant to St. Brigid's. This fails to be realised in terms of funding and resources.

The school has been told it is to lose further resources, including two more SNAs, both of whom have worked in the school for seven years, an extra quota woodwork teacher who has been with the school for two years and one resource teacher who worked in the school for five years. The reality is that if the pupils at St. Brigid's were enrolled in mainstream schools, their support needs would total in excess of 54 SNAs and 11 resource teachers, compared with an allocation, as previously mentioned, of nine class teachers and 12 SNAs.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Time up, Deputy.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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There are currently six applications for SNA support for six existing students at the school.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Time up, Deputy.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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There has been no reply from the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. The board of management of St. Brigid's has also applied for the redesignation of two classes to reflect more effectively the abilities and needs of the students.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Time up, Deputy.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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One of the most pressing issues at St. Brigid's is one of space. A recent application for the replacement of classrooms at the school has been refused. The system is failing St. Brigid's school. The dedicated staff has high expectations, not only from the pupils but also from themselves.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I must ask Deputy Bannon to finish.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Leaving this school to cope as best it can without essential help is educationally and morally wrong. I ask the Minister to rectify the problem that is hindering the progress of this remarkable facility which gives so much to those who are so dependent on it for the life chances others take for granted. I thank the Acting Chairman for his endurance.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn. I thank Deputy Bannon for raising this issue as it gives me an opportunity to clarify the position on the matter raised by him.

I wish to clarify for the Deputy that the Department has always valued the contribution made by special schools to the continuum of provision being made for children with special educational needs. The programme for Government clearly states education will be a priority for the Government and that we will endeavour to protect and enhance the educational experience of children, young people and students. In this regard, the Department has prioritised the level of supports being provided for special schools. It has issued Circular 0042/2011 to all special schools to advise them of the staffing arrangements which will apply in special schools for the next school year. While the data available indicate that there is a surplus of teaching posts throughout the special school sector, current teaching staff levels will be retained in special schools for the 2011-12 school year at existing levels, except in the case of schools with excess teaching posts which are losing such posts through retirement. The existing level of special needs assistant, SNA, supports will be rolled over in special schools for the coming school year, other than for schools with declining enrolments, with a review to take place in the autumn of the 2011-12 school year.

The school in question, St. Brigid's special school, is a designated school for children with mild general learning disability. Such schools operate at a pupil-teacher ratio of 1:11. I understand the school currently has 80 pupils enrolled and a staffing level of ten teachers, a principal and 14 special needs assistants. This results in an overall staffing to pupil ratio of 1 staff member per 4 pupils in the school. The nature of the disabilities of the children attending the school means that they have significant education and care needs. However, this is reflected in the level of staffing and SNA support allocated to the school. The NCSE has advised the Department that it considers this level of staffing to be sufficient to meet the special educational and care needs of all of pupils enrolled in the school.

I wish to clarify for the Deputy that the Department recognises that staffing levels and pupil-teacher ratios should reflect the complexity of need within individual schools and should not be solely determined by a special school's designation. As such, special schools will be staffed based on their actual current pupil profiles and the disability category of each pupil, as opposed to primarily by school designation. It is intended that school staffing schedules will be reviewed and updated each year by the NCSE.

I wish to confirm that the Department has received an application from St. Brigid's special school for improved accommodation. The application is being assessed and the school management will be notified of the outcome of the assessment in due course. The Department will continue to liaise with the school authority in this regard. I again thank the Deputy for bringing the matter before the House.