Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the issue of meeting the needs of children with Specific Speech and Language Disorder, SSLD; if he considers it desirable that additional capitation grants to schools should be ringfenced and used to meet the needs of those children on whose behalf it is given, particularly in the matter of enhanced rates of capitation funding paid in respect of children with special education needs, who attend special schools or special classes attached to mainstream schools; if he will consider reducing the flexibility and discretion to schools in respect of the targeting of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12661/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department provides an extensive range of supports for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder (SSLD). My Department provides for the establishment of special classes for Specific Speech and Language Disorder in primary schools. Applications to establish such classes are considered by the school's assigned Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) and those meeting the criteria for establishment are approved by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

A full-time teacher is assigned to each class, and classes operate with a reduced pupil-teacher ratio of 7:1. Speech and language therapy services are provided to these classes by the Health Service Executive (HSE). An enhanced capitation grant is provided to schools operating special classes for pupils with Specific Speech and Language Disorder. The current rate is €912 per pupil. In circumstances where a child who meets the criteria for Specific Speech and Language Disorder as outlined in my Department's Circular 0038/2007 and who is not enrolled in a special class for SSLD may qualify for additional teaching support where he/she is enrolled in mainstream school. Applications for such support may be made to the NCSE through the local SENO. Pupils with mild speech and language difficulties may qualify for supplementary teaching support from within the school's general allocation of learning support/teaching support.

The Deputy is aware that enhanced rates of capitation funding are paid in respect of children with special educational needs who attend special schools or special classes attached to mainstream schools. Increases in recent years in these enhanced rates have brought the top rate up to over €900 per pupil in comparison with the standard capitation rate of €190 per pupil.

I wish to advise the Deputy that my Department's Circulars 40/2009 and 48/2009 clarify issues relating to the allocation of funding for schools. Schools have flexibility and discretion on how to target funding to the school's own priorities, based on its knowledge and understanding of the needs of the students it serves.