Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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186. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has given consideration to granting administrative status to a person (details supplied) in a special school; if he will request the NCSE to review the staffing ratio applied to the school in view of the number of children attending the school who have complex needs; if he has examined correspondence sent by a person outlining their concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48724/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Since 2012 special schools are staffed based on their actual current pupil profiles and the disability category of each pupil, as opposed to primarily by school designation, in accordance with Department Circular 0042/2011.

Currently the awarding of Administrative Principal in special schools is governed by the Report of the Special Education Review Committee 1993 (SERC Report).  Under the SERC report, Administrative Principal is warranted in special schools at the point at which the 6th teacher (i.e. 5th assistant teacher is about to be appointed).

I am aware of the correspondence received from the school to which the Deputy refers and my Department, in conjunction with the NCSE, have considered the staffing position of the school, taking into consideration the complex needs of the students enrolled, particularly those with chronic medical conditions and severe challenging behavior.

A letter will issue to the school in the coming days, in response to the correspondence received.