Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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819. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the changes that have been made to eligibility criteria and the allocation model for the language support programme since 2010. [1357/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Teacher allocations are approved annually in accordance with established rules based on recognised pupil enrolment. The level of extra teaching support provided in respect of language support to schools is determined by the numbers of eligible pupils enrolled and the associated levels of those pupils' language proficiency. New arrangements (rule based allocations and an appeal process) were put in place in recent years for the allocation of language support to schools. Prior to the 2012/2013 school year, these posts were allocated on a temporary basis by way of applications by individual schools.

Reforms introduced in the 2012/13 school year created a single simplified allocation process for both learning and language support. At primary level, learning/language support hours are allocated on the basis of mainstream classroom teaching posts in the school. At post-primary level, learning/language support is allocated on the basis of pupil numbers. Schools have autonomy to deploy this resource between learning support and language support depending on the specific needs of the school.

The revised arrangements also provided for additional permanent teaching posts to be given to schools with high concentration of pupils that require language support. Further additional temporary language support posts are provided on the basis of appeals to the Staffing Appeal Boards. The appeal criteria are set out in the published staffing arrangements.