Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1700: To ask the Minister for Education and Science when adequate additional co-operation hours for practical subjects will be allocated to a school (details supplied) in County Louth; the reason children attending this school are not being treated equally to other children in preparation for examinations; if this situation is in breach of the Equal Status Act 2000 and the Education for People with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act; if her attention has been drawn to the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2494/07]

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

My Department allocates additional teaching hours to Vocational Education Committees to support the delivery of education programmes in a range of facilities including special schools under the heading Co-Operation Hours with Other Institutions. These allocations are made in response to specific applications which are submitted by the relevant VEC's in advance of the commencement of the school year to which they relate.

St Brigid's Special School is currently in receipt of 1,350 Co-Operation Hours. Co. Louth VEC has sought an increase of 418 hours in their allocation for the 2006/2007 school year. My Department is currently arranging a review of allocations to VEC's under Co-Operation Hours with Other Institutions and the needs of St. Brigid's will be considered in the context of this review.