Written answers

Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Department of Education and Science

Special Educational Needs

10:00 am

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 686: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills to support a school (details supplied). [30207/10]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's policy in allocating this support.

The correspondence referred to by the Deputy raises issues in relation to consultation and planning in the context of Circular 0038/2010 issued by my Department in May this year. I wish to clarify that the purpose of the circular is to signal the process through which enrolment practices and resource allocations will be addressed in Special Schools for the 2011/12 school year and to set out the transition arrangements that will apply in relation to these issues for the 2010/11 school year. The Circular explains that the Department of Education and Skills and the NCSE met with representatives of the Catholic Primary School Management Association (CPSMA), the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education (NABMSE), the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and the National Parents Council Primary to consider these issues with a view to putting a process in place to engage in a collaborative manner to clarify the position on these issues and to identify appropriate staffing arrangements which will apply with effect from the 2011/2012 school year. It was agreed that the parties will consult further in the near future in this regard.

As such, I would be grateful if the Deputy could advise the correspondent to also ensure that her concerns are brought to the attention of her relevant representative body, so that these views might be represented on her behalf at the upcoming consultation process.

The correspondence also refers to engagement regarding the report on Special Schools and Classes. I wish to clarify for the Deputy that the Research Report on the role of Special Schools and Classes in Ireland was commissioned by the NCSE. I have received a copy of this report. This research, including recommendations, needs to be considered first of all by the NCSE. While the NCSE has funded this research, the report clearly states that the views and opinions are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the NCSE.

I understand that the report may be one of a number of many strands of evidence to be considered by the NCSE when formulating its position in relation to special schools and special classes. Ultimately, it is expected that advice received from the NCSE will assist my Department with policy formulation in relation to the role of special schools and special classes. I look forward to receiving the considered views of the NCSE in relation to this issue.

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