Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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807. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the changes proposed regarding learning support and resource teacher allocation; if she will address the concerns raised by a school principal (details supplied) in County Cork [1492/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published its Report on a Proposed New Model for Allocating Teachers for Students with Special Educational Needs on 18th June 2014. The report recommends that a new allocation model should be developed, based on a school's educational profile, while providing a baseline allocation to every mainstream school to support inclusion.

My Department is currently collecting and considering information which will be required to develop the proposed new model.

Following consideration of this data, my Department will also consider whether, and from what date, a new model might be implemented.

I also wish to advise the Deputy that following publication of the working group report, my Department invited education partners, stakeholders, and parent representative groups to make written submissions in relation to the NCSE report. 27 written submissions have been received to date, from interested parties.

My Department also held a number of consultation meetings on 1st and 3rd October last with stakeholders, education partners, and parent representative groups.

A further series of consultations are scheduled to take place with these groups in the coming weeks, which will assist in developing proposals in relation to the new model.