Written answers

Tuesday, 26 April 2005

Department of Education and Science

Special Educational Needs

9:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 65: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to further special needs requirements at both primary and second level schools throughout the country; if she intends to make provision for the appointment of the necessary teaching staff to ensure the availability of maximum hours for children with special needs requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12990/05]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Every effort is made to ensure that children with special educational needs receive an education appropriate to their needs and, in this regard, in recent years significant additional resources have been made available to schools to enable them to provide for children with such needs.

The following dedicated resources are now deployed to support children with special educational needs in the primary system: more than 2,600 resource teachers — up from 104 in 1998; more than 1,500 learning support teachers; more than 1,000 teachers in special schools; more than 600 teachers in special classes; nearly 6,000 special needs assistants — up from 300 in 1998; more than €30 million on school transport for special needs pupils; more than €3 million towards specialised equipment and materials — up from €0.8 million in 1998.

In addition, the level of resources being made available to support students with special educational needs in the second level system has also grown significantly in recent years. In the current school year, my Department has allocated approximately 1,388 whole time equivalent teachers and 630 special needs assistants to second level schools and VECs to cater for pupils with special educational needs.

In addition to the measures I have outlined, the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, has been established as an independent statutory body with responsibilities as set out in the National Council for Special Education (Establishment) Order, 2003. The establishment of the NCSE is a further major step in ensuring that the requirements of children with special educational needs are identified and the necessary resources put in place in a timely and effective manner.

There are 71 special education needs organisers, SENOs, employed by the council since September 2004. These have been deployed on a nationwide basis, with at least one SENO being deployed in each county. Each SENO is responsible for the primary and second level schools in their area and they have made contact with each of their schools and informed them of their role.

In addition to processing requests for resources, the council will co-ordinate the provision of education and related support services with health boards, schools and other relevant bodies. Placing organisers in the locality will enable them to work with the parents and the schools, particularly to co-ordinate the services on a local level. That will ensure that when a child has been identified as having a special need, the services can be put in place immediately.

The issue of providing adequate resources to meet the needs of children with special educational needs will continue to be a priority for me. In this regard, my Department is continuing to take steps to develop the network of special educational provision for children with special needs. The steps taken in recent years and those currently in hand represent significant progress in the development of those services.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.