Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 499: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will undertake a review of the staffing allocation to a school (details supplied) in Dublin 4 under DEIS and under the weighted model for resource teachers, due to the fact that inaccuracies in data relating to this school have resulted in inadequate staffing provisions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37796/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the general allocation scheme has been in operation since September 2005 under which mainstream primary schools have been provided with resource teaching support, based on enrolment figures, to cater for children with high-incidence special educational needs such as dyslexia and those with learning support needs. The school referred to by the Deputy qualified for 1 full-time permanent post under the general allocation model, based on its enrolment at that time. The school principal wrote to my Department on 10 October 2006 requesting an increase in its general allocation under the terms of Circular 0036/2006, on the basis of the school's developing status. The school satisfies the terms of the scheme. I am pleased to confirm that the general allocation teaching support for the school has been reviewed and the general allocation for the 2006/2007 school year is now 1 full-time permanent post and 7.5 part-time hours, an increase of 7.5 hours. The school authorities were notified of this increase on 10 November 2006.

In addition, the school has accepted an invitation to participate in Band 2 of the urban strand of the new School Support Programme under the DEIS Action Plan. Band 2 schools will benefit from the following supports in the current school year: sanction to employ administrative principals on lower staffing and enrolment figures than apply to primary schools generally; the extension of the School Meals Scheme to any Band 2 schools that don't already have it; the roll-out of the Home School Community Liaison and School Completion services to all Band 2 schools which do not already have them; allocation of additional capitation grants; and the allocation of additional funding under the School Books Grant Scheme. A review process was put in place for schools in Band 2 which considered that their level of disadvantage was such as to warrant inclusion in Band 1 of the School Support Programme. Schools were informed of the review process by letter on 4 August 2006 and the closing date for receipt of completed applications for review was 25 September 2006. The Social Inclusion Unit of my Department did not receive an application for review from the school in question.