Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 1138: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will reconsider his decision to cut the mild general learning disability class at a school (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29335/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to assure the Deputy that 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.

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.

The Deputy will be aware that 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 a number of classes, including in this school, and therefore schools no longer qualify to retain the classes.

Following an appeal from the school, my Department did review the decision taken. However, the school's special class enrolment was insufficient to warrant the retention of the post. I wish to advise the Deputy that in addition to the general staffing for the 2009/10 school year, the school also has six learning support resource teachers, one language support teacher, two teachers for two special classes and one resource teacher for traveller pupils.

I wish to reiterate that pupils with a mild general learning disability have, and will continue to have, access to additional teaching resources to support their education. However, there is a requirement to make appropriate use of the resources available and along with all other areas of expenditure, provision is dependent on the resources available to the Government.