Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 592: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the progress being made on the implementation of her Department's proposals to reduce the number of schools in the learning support clusters; if she will review the recent changes in the allocation of resource hours in view of their negative impact on special needs pupils; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9121/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In the light of the reality that pupils in the high incidence disability categories of mild and borderline mild general learning disability and dyslexia are distributed throughout the education system, my Department, in consultation with educational interests, developed a general model of resource teacher allocation to schools to support students in these disability categories. This model which was announced by my predecessor in 2004 to come into effect from September 2005 was designed to put in place a permanent resource in primary schools to cater for pupils in these categories.

The model was constructed in order that allocations would be based on pupil numbers, taking into account the differing needs of the most disadvantaged schools and the evidence that boys have greater difficulties than girls in this regard. The advantages of using a general allocation model are as follows: it facilitates early intervention as the resource is in place in the school when the child enrols; it reduces the need for individual applications and supporting psychological assessments; it puts resources in place on a more systematic basis, thereby giving schools more certainty about their resource levels; it gives more security to special education teaching posts and makes special education teaching a more attractive option; it allows flexibility to school management in the deployment of resources, leading to a more effective and efficient delivery of services; and it will automatically adjust a school's general allocation on the basis of changing enrolment.

I have made it clear that while I am in favour of using a general allocation model for the reasons I have just given, I am conscious of the particular difficulties that the model announced last year could cause for small and rural schools if implemented as originally announced. For this reason I have asked my Department to conduct a review of the model announced last year. The review will be completed in the coming weeks and its outcome will be announced in time to be implemented for the next school year.

The clustering arrangements that will apply will also be determined in the context of the review. In carrying out the review my Department is consulting with representative interests, including the National Council for Special Education.

It is important that where there is a particular special need in the low incidence category, that these children are considered individually. These pupils are not evenly distributed among schools and a general allocation model would not be appropriate. Resources will continue to be allocated on the basis of individual applications to children in the low incidence category.

Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 593: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will approve the application for resource and learning support for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [9122/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy may be aware that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which was established recently and which has been operational since 1 January 2005 is responsible for processing applications for special educational needs, SEN, supports.

I understand that the school has submitted an application for special educational needs supports to the special education needs organiser, SENO, assigned to the school. The SENO will make direct contact with the school authorities regarding the matter.