Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 208: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 30 March 2010, when she will formally write to special schools confirming that her Department is undertaking a review of the decision of the Equality Tribunal that children who are pursuing courses leading to accreditation such as junior certificate and leaving certificate applied should be afforded the same duration of time to complete these courses as their counterparts in mainstream education; when the review will be completed; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the decision of the tribunal applies to all students, present and future and is not to be implemented on a case-by-case basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17086/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department is currently in communication with special schools whose students are pursuing courses leading to accreditation, such as Junior Certificate/Leaving Certificate Applied. These students will be allowed additional time in special schools to complete these courses. In addition, my Department is currently reviewing its policy concerning school leaving age generally with a view to developing a consistent approach for all students whether they are attending a mainstream post primary school or special school. It would be speculative to indicate a timeframe for completion of this review considering the in-depth process involved.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 209: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Science if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare. [17234/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As I advised the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question 193 on 21 April 2010, all primary schools were allocated Learning Support/Resource Teaching support through the General Allocation Model. These teaching resources were provided in order to enable schools provide additional teaching support to pupils who have learning support needs or who have been assessed as having a high incidence disability.

Prior to the introduction of the General Allocation Model, schools had to apply for additional teaching support for each pupil with an assessed disability. However, the introduction of the General Allocation Model means that schools no longer have to make applications for additional teaching support for pupils with high incidence of disability as the Learning Support/Resource teachers are already available in the school. The school has advised my Department that the pupil in question is currently receiving 2.5 hours one-to-one support per week from the Learning Support/Resource teacher. In addition, the pupil is also supported in the classroom through the special needs assistant scheme.