Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 394: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the names and addresses of schools in which a special class for children with mild general learning difficulties was suppressed earlier in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32458/09]

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 395: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the details of additional resources supplied by his Department in the 2009/2010 school year to the pupils who were enrolled in special classes for children with mild general learning difficulties suppressed earlier in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32459/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 395 together.

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 therefore schools no longer qualify to retain the classes.

Some schools have advised that they had enrolled children with a low incidence disability in classes intended for pupils with a mild general learning disability. These children may qualify for individual resource teaching support through the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and these schools were advised that it is open to them to liaise with the local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) in this regard. The Deputy will appreciate that the NCSE allocates such resources and my Department does not retain records in relation to individual allocations. I have arranged for the Deputy's query in relation to this issue to be forwarded to the NCSE for their direct reply.

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.

Details of the schools where classes for MGLD were suppressed are set out below for the Deputy's information.