Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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568. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent of training provided to special educational needs organisers in relation to the new resource allocation model; the number of special educational needs organisers that have undergone formal training on the new model; the dates of the training; the duration of the training; the cost of the training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28128/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that in order to provide information and training in relation to the New Model for allocating Special Education Teachers to schools, all schools and some of the support agencies involved, were invited to attend one of nine Regional Information and Training days which were held at various locations around the Country between March and May of this year. These meetings provided information and training in relation to the new allocation model.

As part of this process, all Special Education Needs Officers (SENOs) were invited to attend one of these meetings. 64 Special Education Needs Officers and 10 Senior Special Education Needs Officers attended one of the nationwide events. As the events were designed to provide for the information and training needs of schools and support agencies, as well as Special Education Needs Officers, it is not possible to separate the cost of providing training specifically to the SENOs who attended these events, from the overall cost of the events.

From 20th March 2017, the National Behavioural Support Service, the Special Education Support Service and the Visiting Teacher Service for Children with Visual or Hearing Impairment transferred to the NCSE as part of the process involved in supporting the introduction of the new model of allocation of teaching supports to schools. Together with SENOs, staff in these services will now work in one unified support service for schools comprising over 200 staff.

These staff will continue to build professional capacity in schools and to provide the supports in relation to the allocation of SNA support, school transport, training and upskilling, assistance with behavioural issues, and support in relation to students with a visual or hearing impairment.

Further training for all NCSE staff involved in supporting schools under the new model will be provided, as appropriate, through the 2017/18 school year. 

In this context, staff training will be held on 11 and 12 September for all NCSE staff and the main training component will relate to the manner in which the unified support service, including SENOs will provide support to schools. Further training will be provided through the school year in line with the delivery of the NCSE plans to provide support to schools.