Seán Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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Question 932: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that there are pupils attending a school (details supplied) in County Dublin who have had psychological assessments recommending learning support and that the board of management is unable to meet their needs due to the fact that there is no learning support teachers in the school; and if she will recommend the appointment of such a teacher for the school as a matter of urgency. [10721/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the situation in the school in question. I trust that the Deputy is aware of the proposed new system for resource teacher allocation announced by my predecessor in 2004 which involves a general allocation for all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher incidence special educational needs — borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability — and those with learning support needs, that is, functioning at or below the tenth percentile on a standardised test of reading and-or mathematics.

I am conscious of difficulties that could arise in relation to the proposed model for children in small and rural schools, if it were implemented as proposed. Accordingly, my Department is currently reviewing the proposal to ensure that it provides an automatic response for pupils with higher incidence special educational needs. The review involves consultation with educational interests, including the National Council for Special Education, NCSE. The revised procedure for providing a general allocation of resource hours to schools will be announced in the coming weeks, in time to be implemented for the next school year. My officials will liaise with the school following the completion of the review process.