John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pupils with Down's syndrome in the mainstream school setting that have a diagnosis of DS with a mild intellectual disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20957/11]

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will make available the details of the review of the general allocation model of teaching supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20958/11]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together.

As the Deputy is aware, pupils with a mild general learning disability, and who do not attend either a special class or special school, receive additional teaching support at primary level through the teaching staff already in place in all primary schools. All primary schools have been allocated learning support/resource teaching support through the General Allocation Model specifically to support pupils with a high incidence special educational need, including pupils with Down Syndrome with a mild general learning disability. My Department does not have compiled detailed information on the individual children who receive support through the general allocation system.

This model of teacher allocation is not in place at post-primary level and therefore the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) allocates additional teaching supports to post-primary schools in respect of students with a mild general learning disability. NCSE has advised my Department that additional teaching supports were in place in post-primary schools in the 09/10 school year in respect of over 3,600 students who had been assessed as having a mild general learning disability. There is no further breakdown of information available in relation to the number of pupils with Down Syndrome with assessed mild general learning disability. A review of the General Allocation Model has been undertaken and completed by my Department and a decision on its publication will be made shortly. The recommendations of the review will be considered in the context of my Departments Employment Control Framework obligations and competing demands on teacher numbers and educational resources.