Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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941. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when a pilot study will examine resource hours' allocation for children with Down's syndrome; when the changes from the pilot study will be implemented across the board; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21450/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that, as outlined in my announcement of 21st May, approximately 50 schools, both Primary and Post Primary, are being invited to participate, on a voluntary basis, in the pilot of a new resource allocation model for schools, which will commence in September 2015.

The pilot will test the utilisation of resources by schools and the distribution and management of those resources by schools to support all pupils with learning needs in schools, taking into account their level of need, regardless of any particular disability diagnosis, as envisaged by the NCSE Working Group Report.

The Deputy will be aware that I also recently separately announced that additional resources will be allocated to schools, as an interim measure, to support those children with Down syndrome, who are not already supported through the (NCSE) low incidence resource teaching annual allocation process.

Under the interim measure, schools will receive 2.5 resource teacher hours per week for each qualifying child.

This will apply in all schools, not just in schools which are participating in the pilot project.

It is a specific allocation which will assist schools to support pupils with Down syndrome who do not currently qualify for Low Incidence resource teaching hours, pending the introduction of the new allocation model.

Once the Pilot project has been evaluated, it is my intention to further consult with Education Partners and Stakeholders regarding the timeframe for the implementation of the new allocation model for all schools.

I can confirm, however, that the interim allocations for children with Down syndrome, as set out above, will remain in place until such time as the proposed new model for allocating teaching supports to children with special education needs comes into force.

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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942. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if Down's syndrome will become a listed condition under the National Council for Special Education in order that children do not need to be assessed every year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21451/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced that additional resources will be allocated to schools, as an interim measure, to support those children with Down syndrome, who are not already supported through the (NCSE) low incidence resource teaching annual allocation process.

All children with Down syndrome had previously been entitled to receive additional teaching support either through the General Allocation systems, if the child had mild general learning difficulties, or if they had an additional low incidence disability, as set out in my Departments Circular 02/05, through an additional allocation to schools by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

I advised that this measure was being introduced in recognition of the length of time it will take to introduce the new resource teacher allocation model and the fact that children with Down syndrome experience a cluster of difficulties relating to this syndrome, in addition to general learning difficulties, including speech and language developmental delays.

Under the interim measure, schools will receive 2.5 resource teacher hours per week for each qualifying child.

This new allocation means there will now be certainty regarding the provision which will be made for children with Down syndrome with a Mild General Learning Difficulty.

However, this new allocation does not constitute a new category of Low Incidence resource teaching hours. Rather it is a specific allocation which will assist schools to support pupils with Down syndrome who do not currently qualify for Low Incidence resource teaching hours, pending the introduction of the new allocation model.