Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will examine the issue whereby the pupils of a special needs school are automatically listed on the primary online database (details supplied). [42911/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of the Primary On-line Database (POD) and the Post Primary On-line Database (PPOD) is to monitor the progress of children through the education system in order to ensure that every student can meet their educational potential, and to ensure that every child of compulsory school age is in receipt of an education. POD data underpins the provision of education in primary schools, including special schools while PPOD underpins the provision of education in post primary schools.   When the data from schools is verified, it is used as the basis for the provision of capitation grants, teacher and other resource allocation to schools, and provision of examination numbers from the State Examination Commission.

All Special Schools funded by my Department are currently established as primary schools which cater for children and young people with complex special educational needs from the age of 4 years until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year.

In the majority of special schools, the primary curriculum, modified as appropriate, is offered, to cater for the abilities and complexity of special educational needs of students attending special schools. Within this framework / provision, a special school may opt to provide certificate type programmes, FETAC, Junior Cycle, LCA, ASDAN, etc.

While it is a matter for school authorities to determine the school’s staffing requirements in accordance with the curricular requirements of the cohort of students attending the school, special schools employ primary qualified teachers who have general training around child development, with an emphasis on developing communication and literacy and numeracy as well as the initial teacher education experience in music, physical education, and the arts and drama. Primary teachers are qualified to teach a wide range of curriculum areas in special schools. In some special schools, post-primary qualified teachers who are specialists in a limited number of subject areas can be employed to cater for specialised subjects such as woodwork and home economics and leaving certificate level subjects.