Written answers

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Services Provision

Photo of Pearse DohertyPearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has further considered the submission from Down Syndrome Ireland that they submitted regarding his Department's review of the General Allocation Model of teaching supports; if he is of the view to consider classifying Down Syndrome as a low incidence disability for the the purpose of teaching supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16577/13]

Photo of Ruairi QuinnRuairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware of this Government's ongoing commitment to ensuring that all children with special educational needs, including children with Down syndrome, can have access to an education appropriate to their needs. The policy of my Department is to secure the maximum possible level of inclusion of students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, or where a special school or special class placement may be required to ensure such placements are provided for.

Pupils with Down syndrome attending mainstream schools may receive additional teaching support in primary schools, either under the terms of the General Allocation Model (GAM) of teaching supports, if the pupil's educational psychological assessment places the pupil in the mild general learning disability/high incidence disability category, or through an allocation of individual additional resource teaching hours which are allocated by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), if the child is assessed as being within the low incidence category of special need, as defined by my Department's Circular Sp Ed 02/05.

I can confirm that the submission from Down Syndrome Ireland was considered as part of the review of the General Allocation Model. The review recommended that research be undertaken to establish if there is a sound and equitable basis for re-classifying Down Syndrome as a low incidence disability.

I can confirm for the Deputy that I have asked the National Council for Special Education to provide me with policy advice on the issue of whether Down syndrome should be reclassified as a low incidence disability in all instances, regardless of assessed cognitive ability. This advice will be included in the NCSE's comprehensive policy advice on how the education system can best support children with special educational needs which is currently in preparation and which is expected in the coming months.

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