Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

8. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on staffing issues in a school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [58318/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I thank the Deputy for the question. The Department of education and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, are aware of the recent issues raised by the school to which Deputy O’Sullivan referred. I can confirm that the Department and the NCSE have met and are in ongoing contact with the management of the school to ensure the needs of all students continue to be met.

As Deputy O’Sullivan knows, when a special class in a special school is established, there is an automatic allocation of one teacher and two special needs assistants per class of six students. However, the standard allocation can be increased on the basis of the profile and needs of the students enrolled. St. Gabriel’s Special School currently has an enrolment of 54 students and a standard allocation of nine teachers and 18 SNAs. Additional resources, namely one teacher and 17 SNAs, supplementing the standard allocation, have been provided to the school. This is a significant increase in additional resources. The NCSE is providing advice and guidance to the school on how best to deploy staff to support the needs of the children. The Department and the NCSE also provide ongoing training opportunities to schools, particularly special schools, in order that their staff have the skills and competencies required for the level of complexity in the school environment.

I am pleased to say that in the recent budget over 860 additional special education teacher posts have been secured and over 1,700 special needs assistants, SNAs, have been provided. This will mean we will have over 46,500 teachers and SNAs working in our education system. Any school, special or mainstream, with concerns regarding the level of resources to meet the care needs of its students can contact the NCSE at any stage to seek a review of its allocation. I am aware of the issues raised earlier in the year, and we are in constant contact with the school authorities in relation to them.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I did not hear what the Minister of State said at the outset. Initially, there were nine special educational needs, SEN, teachers and 18 SNAs. The Minister of State said there was an additional SEN teacher. How many SNAs?

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Seventeen.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Are they recent additions?

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Right now, that is the number.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister of State said that the Department is in contact with the school on an ongoing basis. Has the review that was instigated upon the arrival of officials from the NCSE and the Department concluded in the school? Is there any prospect of additional resources or has it been deemed that the resources provided heretofore are sufficient? As the Minister of State said, St. Gabriel’s deals in many cases, if not most, with students with severe intellectual disabilities and complex needs. Many also have autism. It is a particularly vulnerable cohort of students who need to be afforded every help we can give them. Could the Minister of State clarify if there is any further review pending or if further staff are due to be deployed to the school? As he knows, several parents were particularly upset when they received the initial email from school management stating their children could be on a temporary part-time schedule. Have those concerns been alleviated?

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Officials from the NCSE and the Department met the school board of management, including the chair, and the principal on 10 October. There is ongoing engagement with the NCSE and the Department. The NCSE is arranging a follow-up meeting with the school this week to discuss the findings of the SNA review, the recommendations to support SNA resources and other related issues. I guarantee that we are working very closely. When the issues arose in early October, the Department worked very closely with the NCSE and the school authorities to ensure concerns were being adequately addressed. I very much take the Deputy’s point regarding the complexity of needs within St. Gabriel’s and the huge amount of work being done there to provide care and education to students. We are continuously engaging with the school. With regard to additional resources, there are the additional teacher and 17 SNAs, along with the nine teachers and the 18 SNAs, but following the review, we are continuing to ensure any further resourcing requirements of St. Gabriel’s will be met.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I genuinely acknowledge the Minister of State’s involvement in this. I rang him on Thursday night, when this story was about to break, and he got straight on to the school the following morning. That was appreciated by the parents and the school management.

I seek clarification on one or two more points. The Minister of State said the NCSE is due to follow up this week. I realise he is not going to disclose on the floor of the Dáil what the result of the SNA review will be, but I reiterate the requirement that probably exists. The Minister of State mentioned that there are other related issues. I am not sure if they are sensitive. If he cannot disclose what they are, could he mention the issues he can talk about on the floor of the Dáil.

One SEN teacher was appointed temporarily a number of weeks ago when this issue emerged. Is that the additional SEN teacher along with the 17 SNAs he mentioned or is it a SEN teacher in addition to that allocation?

Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The question here is whether the Minister of State, the principal, the board of management and the parents are satisfied that the concerns about a reduction in teaching hours for pupils have been addressed and that there is 100% certainty that there will be no such reduction? As the Minister of State knows, St. Gabriel’s is a specialist school that deals with children with some of the most complex issues children can have. It is a very important school. I spoke to parents who were very upset when it looked like there would be a reduction. They were worried not about themselves but about their children. What the Minister of State said sounds good, but is it enough to guarantee that the children will get an education at the level they are entitled to? If so, I will welcome it. I just want to have the guarantee put on the record.

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy O’Sullivan raised various issues. The details of the review are between the board, the NCSE and the Department. Much work has been done by these three over the past month or six weeks. I pay tribute to everybody concerned, including in St. Gabriel’s. They met immediately on the Friday after the Thursday night on which the issue was raised with me, and they have continued to engage.

A reduction in hours is not on the cards. We want to ensure that proper resources are allocated to St. Gabriel’s to ensure it can provide care to and meet the education needs of all its 54 students. It is a matter of supporting the school with SNA resources. If there are related training or support needs, we are available to meet them. We are engaging in a very coherent way with St. Gabriel’s and we will continue to meet the needs of the school authorities and, more importantly, the education and care needs of the students within the school.