Written answers

Wednesday, 6 March 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Special Educational Needs Staff

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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117. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the special needs teacher requirement continues to be met nationally and in particular in north County Kildare; if sufficient provision continues to be made in line with requirements and requests from the various primary and second-level schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11251/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circular 0013/2017 for primary schools and 0014/2017 for post primary schools set out the details of the new model for allocating special education teachers to schools.  DES Circulars 007 and 008 of 2019 set out how the allocations for schools are being updated from September 2019.

The Special Education Teacher allocation process provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile.

Under the allocation model, schools are provided with a total allocation for special education needs support based on their school profile.  

The provision of a profiled allocation is designed to give a fairer allocation for each school which recognises that all schools need an allocation for special needs support, but which provides a graduated allocation which takes into account the actual level of need in each school.

Under the allocation model schools are frontloaded with resources, based on each school’s profile, to provide supports immediately to those pupils who need it without delay. This reduces the administrative burden on schools as schools no longer have to complete an application process annually and apply for newly enrolled pupils who require resource hours. Children who need support can have that support provided immediately rather than having to wait for a diagnosis.

1,000 additional Special Education Teachers have been provided for schools since 2017, while the total number of Special Education Teachers has increased by 37% since 2011, from 9,740 in 2011,

to over 13,400 at present. 

I am satisfied that the very significant levels of additional provision we have made in recent years, to provide Special Education Teachers, means that all schools, including schools in County Kildare, are sufficiently resourced to provide for the special educational needs and care needs of children in their schools.

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