Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Education and Science

Departmental Funding

9:00 pm

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 1026: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will support a matter (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [48554/09]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The Revised Programme for Government provides for a number of specific measures in the education sector including a commitment to no further increase in the pupil teacher ratio for the lifetime of the Government, 500 teaching posts over the next three years, funding sufficient to expand NEPs psychologist numbers to 210, standard capitation grants to schools being maintained and an extra allocation being made available to schools for needs such as book rental schemes and curricular activities. In addition it provides for the development of a costed multi-annual plan to implement some priority aspects of the Education for Persons with a Special Educational Need (EPSEN) Act focusing on measurable, practical progress in education and health services for children with special needs.

Following consultation with the education partners it is proposed that 200 of the teaching posts will be allocated in the current school year, 100 to each of the sectors, primary and post primary. My Department has met the education partners to discuss the criteria to use to allocate the posts with each sector. All the education partners were anxious to ensure that the allocation criteria are clear and transparent and, where possible, the posts should be allocated in a manner that minimises the administrative burden for schools and the Department.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that €13 million of additional grant support has been made available in Budget 2010, which will be made available to schools to allocate to books and curricular activities. This is in addition to the €7 million that was allocated to DEIS schools for books in 2009.

My officials will be consulting with the management bodies to consider the details of how these funds will be channelled to schools having regard to the desirability of streamlining grant payments. Schools will be advised of the arrangements following this process.

Children with special educational needs will continue to receive an education appropriate to their needs. The NCSE will continue to allocate teaching and special needs assistant resources in line with my Department's policy to enable schools support pupils with special educational needs.

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