Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding resource teaching hours for children with Down syndrome who have a mild general learning disability; and if she will urgently put resources in place to ensure that children with Down syndrome who have a mild general learning disability will receive the same resource teaching as pupils with a moderate general learning disability. [8837/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Under the existing allocation system, all pupils with Down syndrome, including pupils with mild general learning difficulties, are entitled to receive additional teaching support.

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

In the current school year my Department has allocated approximately 4950 learning support/resource teachers through general allocation, while the NCSE has allocated over 6200 resource teachers.

I am aware that some parents, and Down syndrome representative organisations, have concerns that the existing system does not give them certainty as to the support that their children will receive under the GAM, as these hours are distributed locally by schools.

I recently met with Down Syndrome Ireland, and some parents of children with Down syndrome to discuss their concerns in this regard. I am meeting with more parents this week.

I will consider and review the issues which have been raised and will keep the House informed of my developing views on this matter.