Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

22. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is satisfied regarding her ability to meet the full requirements of special needs teachers and special needs assistants at primary and secondary level; the steps she is taking to address emerging needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43871/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This year 11,940 SNAs are available for allocation to primary and secondary schools, which is an increase of 13% in the number of posts available since 2011.

The NCSE has allocated 6832 Resource teaching posts to mainstream schools this year, which is an increase of 29% since 2011.

In addition, over 150 new Special Classes have been opened for the 2015/16 school year, which means there are now over 1,000 special classes in place.

I welcome the fact, that even in the constrained economic circumstances we have faced in recent years, we have been able to continue to meet the needs of children with special educational needs attending our schools and to increase provision to address emerging needs in this area.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

23. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the provision of resources hours for children with a disability in primary schools. [43915/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The NCSE has allocated 6832 Resource Teaching posts to mainstream schools this year. This is an increase of 29% in the allocation since 2011.

3965 of these posts have been allocated to primary schools, which is an increase of 11% over the allocation made last year.

The General Allocation Model (GAM) is now updated annually for all primary schools, to take account of increased enrolments. 4273 GAM posts have been allocated to primary schools this year to provide additional supports for pupils with learning needs and mild general learning difficulties.

The NCSE recommend that a new model for allocating resource teachers to schools should be introduced which would allow the allocation of resources to pupils based on actual learning needs rather than on a diagnosis of disability.

A pilot this new model is taking place in a number of schools over the course of the current school year.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

24. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the evaluations that have taken place on the effectiveness of teaching resources provided to assist children with dyslexia under the general allocation model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43873/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

All mainstream schools are allocated additional teaching resources to cater for children with High Incidence special educational needs, including Specific Learning Disabilities, of which Dyslexia is one such SLD.

The Special Educational Support Service provides training courses for schools in the area of Dyslexia as well as support for in-school seminars and attendance at relevant conferences and seminars.

The quality of teaching, the quality of learning and of care and support for pupils with special educational needs, including those pupils with dyslexia, is evaluated and reported on in all whole-school type evaluations at both primary and post-primary levels.

Inspectors will provide advice and support to teachers regarding their provision for pupils with dyslexia, where relevant and appropriate.

At primary level, the Inspectorate is currently developing a new evaluation model that has a more specific focus on the use of teaching resources provided to the school to assist pupils with special educational needs.