Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if the number of special needs teaching posts and resources provided through the general allocation model are determined on the basis of 2005 pupil enrolment figures; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14609/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The allocation of teaching resources under the General Allocation Model is based on current enrolments for schools with developing school status. The enrolment base for the allocation of teaching resources for other schools has remained unchanged since the General Allocation Model was introduced in 2005.

Special needs resources have been increased significantly in recent years and there are currently almost 6,000 learning support and resource teachers in our primary schools.

When the General Allocation Model was first introduced it was intended that it would be reviewed after three years of operation. This review is currently underway. My Department has recently written to the education partners seeking their views in relation to the operation of the General Allocation Model.

The General Allocation Model has a number of benefits associated with it, among which are that it facilitates early intervention as the resource is in place when the child enrols and it puts resources in place on a more systematic basis, thereby giving schools more certainty about their resource levels. It is also the case that it reduces the need for individual applications and supporting psychological assessments and allows flexibility to school management in the deployment of resources.