Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 252 of 18 February 2009, if he will make a special case for a group of children at a school (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8499/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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There will be no pupil with a special educational need who will be without access to a special needs teacher as a result of the decision to apply the normal rules which govern the appointment and retention of teachers of special classes for pupils with a mild general learning disability.

These special classes which are to close pre-date the 2005 General Allocation Model of allocating additional teacher support to schools to enable them to meet the needs of pupils with mild general learning disabilities as well as a number of other high incidence disabilities. All primary schools now have additional teaching support in place for this purpose.

All primary schools were allocated additional teaching resources under the General Allocation Model to enable them support pupils with high incidence special educational needs including mild general learning disability (MGLD). 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.

Teacher 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 permits schools to retain a teaching post where it has a minimum of 9 pupils in the class. This minimum as returned by the school was not fulfilled. Therefore, the school no longer qualifies to retain the class.

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 since 2005 in line with falling numbers as pupils are supported through the additional teaching allocation provided and schools have integrated the children into age-appropriate mainstream classes.

All of the other primary schools in the country which do not have classes for children with MGLD cater for these pupils from within the General Allocation Model.

Pupils with a mild general learning disability have, and will continue to have access to additional teaching resources to support their education.

As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through the local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. This includes the establishment of special classes in various geographical areas as required and the discontinuation of such classes where the need no longer exists.

The Deputy advises that the pupils' needs do not fall within the MGLD range so the continuation of the MGLD class is no longer justifiable. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact the SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie. It is open to the school and or parents to contact the SENO in the context of the supports that are available to support the pupils in question.