Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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559. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a review of the funding available under the special education support service is under way; the date on which this review will be finalised; the number of schools in receipt of SESS funding during each of the past three years; and the number of schools which have applied for but not received SESS funding during each of those years. [47828/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Special Education Support Service (SESS) develops and delivers a wide range of professional development supports for teachers working with students with special educational needs in mainstream primary and post-primary schools, special schools and special classes. Support, which may be informational, advisory or facilitative, is provided in response to identified continuing professional development (CPD) needs by schools, professional groups or individual teachers.

Various models of professional development support are available including:

-Dialogue with Teachers

-Online, Website and Telephone support

-School Based Seminar Delivery

-School Visits

-SESS Designed Courses

-Facilitated Teacher Exchanges / Visits

-Support for Projects / Initiatives

-Accredited courses

-Development and Supply of Resource Materials

I can confirm that SESS programme of work is reviewed on an annual basis as it must respond to teacher, school and national policy needs. The programme is also guided by advices from my Department, aegis bodies of the Department where appropriate, relevant research and best practice on an ongoing basis. Where local needs arise which are not catered for, it is open to schools to make an application and funding may be allocated following consideration of the submission and the circumstances of the school.

In 2012, a total of 358 applications for funding from schools were received and 277 were approved.

In 2013, a total of 383 applications for funding from schools were received and 305 were approved.

In 2014, to date, a total of 214 applications for funding from schools were received and 148 were approved.

Where an application for funding is not approved, the school may be redirected to another support service or agency e.g. NEPS or, alternative provision may be made by SESS through access to their various CPD models of professional development support.