Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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240. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the new system of allocating resource hours, making it an equitable system for children with Down syndrome, will be introduced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9752/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced I am not proposing to change the way teachers are allocated to schools to support children with Special Educational Needs for the coming school year.

In taking this decision, I have been guided by the advice of the NCSE Working Group report, which recommended sufficient time be allowed for consultation before the new model is implemented.

Through consultations, there was a broad welcome for the proposed new model from Parents, disability groups, schools and stakeholders. However, there has not been sufficient time to address all of the concerns which have been raised in advance of the 2015 school year. In particular, a robust mechanism for identifying children with complex special educational needs has yet to be finalised. Work will continue to develop the proposed model and to address concerns identified through consultation.

I have asked my Department to design a pilot of the new model, while consultations will also continue to take place regarding this matter. 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, however, 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 will be 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.