Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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558. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the allocation of resource hours for children with Down's syndrome, who will commence school in September 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8223/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that under the existing allocation system, all pupils with Down syndrome, including such pupils with mild general learning difficulties, currently are entitled to receive additional teaching support.

Such support is provided either from a school's allocation of Learning Support or Resource Teaching under the General Allocation Model (GAM), or from an allocation of additional resource teacher hours allocated to schools by the NCSE.

I am aware that some parents, and organisations representing children with Down syndrome, continue to have concerns that the existing system does not give them certainty as to the number of resource teaching hours that may be allocated to their child under the General Allocation Model, as these hours are distributed locally by schools. I met with Down Syndrome Ireland, and with some parents of children with Down syndrome, recently on 19th February.

This was an opportunity for me to discuss the concerns that they have regarding the provision of resource teaching support for children with Down syndrome.

I intend to meet with more parents over the coming week or so.

I will consider the issues that have been raised by Down Syndrome Ireland and parents, and will keep the Deputy and the House informed of my developing views on this matter.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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559. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her views on correspondence from a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 regarding a language unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8225/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, 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).

This includes provision for the establishment of special classes for pupils with SSLD in primary schools. The criteria for enrolment in a Special Class for pupils with SSLD is set out in my Department's Circular 0038/2007.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for opening special classes in schools, where sufficient need arises. The NCSE will be able to advise parents with regards to the availability of special classes in their area or with regards to the potential establishment of new classes.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO). Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.

Pupils who are not enrolled in a special class for SSLD and who meet the criteria for Specific Speech and Language Disorder, as outlined in my Department's Circular, may qualify for additional teaching support where he/she is enrolled in mainstream school.

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. It is a matter for individual schools to use their professional judgement to identify pupils who will receive this support and to use the resources available to the school to intervene at the appropriate level with such pupils.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the enrolment of a child to a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment to schools.

Finally, I wish to advise the Deputy that Pupils with SSLD have access to speech therapy services either through the speech and language therapy services provided in the special class setting by the HSE or through the primary care service.

The provision of health supports, including Speech and Language Therapy services, is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and the Deputy's concerns in relation to this particular issue should be directed to that body.