Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 283: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to a resource hours application for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31161/05]

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

A new general allocation scheme has been introduced under which schools have been provided with resource teaching hours, based on their enrolment figures, to cater for children with high incidence special needs such as dyslexia and those with learning support needs.

My officials have been in contact with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, which has confirmed that the pupil concerned falls into the high incidence disability category. Therefore, his needs fall to be met from within the school's allocation of 20 part-time hours under the new general allocation system. The school authorities were notified of the outcome.

The general allocation scheme is designed to ensure that each school has enough resource teaching hours to meet the needs of children with high incidence special needs, such as dyslexia and children with learning support needs. Resource teaching hours for children with low incidence special needs, will continue to be provided on the basis of an individual application for each child.

It is a matter for each school to determine the pupils with high incidence special education and learning support needs that will receive this support. Each school has been allocated enough resource teaching hours to provide its pupils with a level of support appropriate to their needs.

The school can use its professional judgement to decide how these hours are divided between different children in the school, to ensure that all their needs are met. Research shows that some children with special needs will respond better with one-to-one tuition. Others, however, do better when taught in small groups. Often it is best for resource teachers to work with children in the classroom rather than taking them away to a separate room, as the children then have to catch up work done by the rest of the class in their absence. The type of response needed depends on the child.

My Department has recently issued a comprehensive circular, Sp Ed 02/05, to all primary schools regarding the organisation of teaching resources for pupils who need additional support in mainstream primary schools. The main purpose of this circular is to provide guidance for schools on the deployment and organisation of the teaching resources that were allocated under the general allocation model. Reference is also made in this circular to the deployment of additional teaching resources that are allocated to schools for the support of individual pupils with low incidence disabilities.

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 284: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the requirements for supervision of children with autism when travelling on a school bus; and the person who has responsibility for funding the cost of helpers and ensuring that the required supervision ratio is observed. [31162/05]

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

Depending on their particular assessed needs, children with autism may require supervision while travelling to and from school on transport services funded by my Department. The circumstances of each case are examined by the local special education needs organiser employed by the National Council for Special Education and a recommendation made as to the support required.

Where supervision is required, grant aid is made available by my Department to school management authorities to employ suitable persons to serve as escorts on transport services, accompanying children with special educational needs, including autism.