Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1651: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the percentage of students within the primary education system that obtain extra support or remedial support, either in a mainstream class or away from the mainstream class, to deal with specific issues that may arise regarding language, learning difficulties and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29571/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware of my Department's commitment to ensuring that all children including those with special needs can have access to an education appropriate to their needs preferably in school settings through the primary school network. This facilitates access to individualised education programmes, fully qualified professional teachers, special needs assistants and the appropriate school curriculum with the option, in line with each child's ability, of full/partial integration and interaction with other pupils.

The Deputy will also be aware that my Department implemented a new scheme for allocating learning support / resource teachers to schools to cater for the needs of children with high-incidence special educational needs in all primary schools in September 2005. The general allocation model was designed to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special needs.

It is a matter for school authorities to determine how these hours are utilised to support eligible pupils. My Department does therefore not hold details of the percentage of students being supported through this mechanism. However, it can be assumed generally that pupils who perform at or below the 10th percentile on a standardised test of reading and/or mathematics would qualify for such support. Pupils with more significant needs may qualify for additional teaching and special needs assistant support through the National Council for Special Education.

All schools in Ireland with migrant children for whom English is a second language are entitled to specific resources, irrespective of geographic location. Schools with high numbers of immigrant children for whom English is not their first language are given special supports by way of additional teaching staff and teaching materials. Since summer 2007, the level of additional teacher support allocated to primary and post-primary schools is determined by the number of pupils enrolled for whom English is a second language and the associated assessed levels of pupils' language proficiency. Schools with less than 14 pupils will have their needs addressed through the provision of financial resources, again based on the number of pupils. The resources available are set out in circular 53/2007 and can be accessed on my Department's website www.education.ie.

There are now over 1,500 language support teachers at primary level providing support to approximately 21,000 pupils.