Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 1068: To ask the Minister for Education and Science his views on the increasing of general allocation allowance to accommodate children with mild general learning difficulties, who were previously attending a specific class but which is closing in respect of a school (details supplied) in County Offaly following notification from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11665/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the general allocation model was introduced in primary schools in September 2005 to ensure that each school has learning support/resource teaching support available to meet the needs of children with high incidence special educational needs including children with mild general learning disabilities.

The allocation system under the general allocation model was linked to schools' enrolment and it was decided to review the model after it had been in operation for three years. This review is now underway and is expected to be completed in 2009.

Schools who are satisfied that they meet the Developing School Status criteria may apply to my Department for an increase in their general allocation.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 1069: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the way schools can apply to have a shared special class, following his announcement of the closure of 128 special classes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11666/09]

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 was not fulfilled in the school referred to by the Deputy. 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 who 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.

I have previously indicated that I am open to listening to proposals from schools where they can demonstrate that it is educationally more beneficial for the pupils involved to be in a special class of their own rather than to be integrated with their peers and supported by the mainstream classroom teacher and the learning resource teacher. For example, where two schools on the one campus make a joint proposal to this effect, my Department will consider any such proposal. It would be expected, however, that provision would be made for these pupils within mainstream classes with support from the General Allocation Model.