Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the implications of his decision to cut special needs classes for a school (details supplied) in County Clare; if he will rescind this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6449/09]

Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the schools in Dublin south west covered by the announcement in respect of mild general learning disability classes; if he will provide assurances on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6481/09]

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools in County Galway which will be affected by his decision to withdraw or curtail special needs classes; the number of teachers involved; the number of pupils who will lose access to these classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6485/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to answer Questions Nos. 252, 255 and 258 together.

I wish to advise the deputies that all primary schools have been allocated additional teaching resources to enable them support pupils with high incidence special educational needs including mild general learning disability (MGLD). All primary schools were given these additional teaching resources under the General Allocation Model of learning support/resource teaching introduced in 2005. Schools can decide how best to use this allocation based on the needs of the pupils. Most pupils with a MGLD are included in ordinary classes with their peers and are supported by their class teacher. The curriculum is flexible so that teachers can cater for the needs of children of different abilities.

The Deputies will be aware that allocations to schools typically increase or decrease depending on pupil enrolment. In the case of classes for MGLD the normal pupil teacher ratio that applies is 11:1. My Department however allows for a small reduction in this number and permits schools to retain a teaching post where it has a minimum of 9 pupils in the class. In the schools in question, the number of pupils dropped below this minimum. These schools therefore are no longer entitled to the teaching posts in these classes.

In 2005 when the General Allocation Model was introduced, schools with additional teachers in classes for MGLD were allowed to retain the teachers for these classes. Effectively, these schools received a double allocation. The number of these special classes has decreased over the years and schools have integrated the children into age-appropriate mainstream classes. All of the other primary schools in the country who do not have classes for children with MGLD cater for these pupils from within the General Allocation Model. The number of teachers involved in MGLD classes in County Galway is 4 and the number of pupils is 22. The schools details as requested by the Deputies are contained in the following table.