Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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675. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the resource services for all primary pupils with Down's syndrome; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5688/16]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Pending the development of a new Resource Teaching allocation model schools, I held a number of meetings with Down Syndrome Ireland and with parents of children with Down syndrome last year.

Following these discussions, I agreed to review the educational provision for children with Down syndrome, who are in the Mild General Learning Disability category and who do not qualify for Low Incidence allocations which are made to schools by the National Council for Special Education.

In March 2015, I announced the introduction of an interim measure to give some certainty for children with Down syndromes in relation to their teaching allocations, until a new model is in place.

Provision was made for the National Council for Special Educational Needs to make additional allocations of 2.5 Resource Teaching hours per week to schools, in respect of any child with Down syndrome, currently not eligible for Low Incidence resource teaching hours.

The allocation of 2.5 hours per child reflects the allocation rates for children in the mild general learning difficulty range, including those with Down syndrome, prior to the introduction of generalised allocations for schools.

This measure was provided in recognition of 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.

It was intended that this would address a central concern parents had, that children with Down syndrome with a Mild General Learning Difficulty did not have, adequate support, or certainty of the support they would receive, under the General Allocation schemes, as schools have many competing demands in this area.

The NCSE recommended the introduction of a new resource allocation model, which it had contended would overcome difficulties potentially affecting all children with mild general learning disabilities, including children with Down syndrome.

This measure has therefore been introduced pending the introduction of the new resource allocation model recommended by the NCSE.

The interim allocations 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. Allocations to schools for children with Down syndrome in the Low incidence disability categories will also continue to be made until any new model is introduced.