Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an increase in special education teacher hours for a school (details supplied) will be approved; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the circumstances in the school have changed in the past number of years. [22616/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that DES Circulars 0007/2019 for primary schools and 0008/2019 for post primary schools provide details of how the allocations of Special Education Teachers have been updated for schools from September 2019, based on updated profile data.

All schools have now received revised allocations for September 2019.

As the re profiling occurred, some schools gained additional allocations, where the profile indicator data indicates these schools have additional needs. Some schools received slightly reduced allocations, where the data indicates less need, and some schools maintained their existing allocations.

Where adjustments have been made, they have been made in a graduated manner to minimise the impact for schools. Changes to Allocations have been capped to 20% of the adjustment to the retained element which would otherwise have occurred had a graduated approach not been applied.

No school has lost a full special education teaching post as a result of the re profiling process.

There has also been be no reduction to the overall number of special education teaching posts within the school system. There are currently over 13,400 special education teachers in schools, an increase of 37% since 2011.

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

The school referred to by the Deputy has 55 special education teaching hours, or the equivalent of 2.2 special education teachers (SETs), for an enrolment of 144 pupils at the time the profile was developed.

This gives an allocation ratio of 1 SET for every 65 pupils in the school, compared to a national average of 1 SET per 100 pupils across the primary school system.

This represents a proportionately a high allocation ratio, which takes into account the school profile.

Both my Department and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) are committed to ensuring that all schools are treated equally and fairly in the manner in which their school profiles have been calculated.

Accordingly, a number of review processes have been put in place to support schools.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published details of an appeal process for the 2019 allocation process for schools on their website .

Schools were advised that the appeal will consider circumstances where schools considered that their school profile was calculated incorrectly, using the data set out in DES Circulars 007 and 008 2019. An appeal could be submitted for a review of the information used and of the calculation of the allocation.

A second process will be put in place to address circumstances where the school profile significantly changed following the allocation process e.g. a developing school where the net enrolment numbers significantly increased.

The criteria for qualification for mainstream school developing school posts are set out in the Primary and Post Primary School Staffing Schedule for the 2019/20 school year.

Schools who qualify for additional mainstream developing school posts, in accordance with these criteria, will also qualify for additional Special Education Teaching Allocations to take account of this developing status.

Finally, it is acknowledged that there are some circumstances, which may arise in schools, which fall outside the appeals process, or allocations for developing school status.

These relate to exceptional or emergency circumstances which could not have been anticipated e.g. where the school profile changes very significantly, or where other exceptional circumstances have arisen in a school and which may require a review of schools capacity to provide additional teaching support for all pupils who need it in the school, or of their utilisation of their allocations.

A process will also be available where schools can seek a review of their allocations in the coming months, including the utilisation of their allocations, in circumstances where a school considers that very exceptional circumstances have arisen subsequent to the development of the profile.

As revised updated allocations have recently been issued to schools, this process will recommence in September 2019.

I am satisfied that there are in place a number of processes which can review the special education teacher allocation for schools where necessary.

The very significant levels of additional provision we have made in recent years to provide additional Special Education Teachers means that all schools are resourced to provide for the special educational needs of children in their schools.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 158 of 16 April 2019, when a child (details supplied) will be accommodated with a special needs school place to meet the child's ongoing educational requirements in view of the fact that the primary school will no longer facilitate the child as the child has reached 12 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22618/19]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I understand from my officials that a placement has been sourced for September 2019 for the child in question.

The local Special Education Needs Organiser (SENO) has been in contact with the parent and remains available to provide advice and/or assistance with regard to special education supports for the child.