Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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125. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if administrative status will be granted to all primary schools operating two or more special classes. [42526/20]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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126. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost associated with granting administrative status to all primary schools operating two or more special classes. [42527/20]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 126 together.

Special class provision in mainstream primary and post primary schools is a central element of the continuum of education provision in place to support children with special educational needs.  This continuum extends from fulltime placement in mainstream classes and special classes through to full time enrolment in special schools with a number of options in between.

My Department supports this continuum through a range of dedicated supports in line with the needs of the child.   These supports include the provision of teachers, special needs assistants and psychological support from the National Psychological Service.  In addition, there are specialist supports provided by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) including extensive professional development programmes for principals and teachers and advice for schools, parents and families.

The overall aim of the continuum is to ensure that every child is supported in the journey of realising their potential through education in an inclusive and caring school environment.

I am keenly aware of the huge contribution made by all Principals, including teaching Principals, in supporting this continuum.

Currently, the allocation of an administrative principal to a school is on the basis of a school's enrolment on the previous 30th September, as set out in Appendix B of the staffing schedule.  The enrolment required for the appointment of an administrative principal is currently 176, 143 and 116 in ordinary schools, DEIS Band 2 schools and DEIS Band 1 schools respectively.  Where schools are operating 2 or more Autism Special Classes, the required enrolment for the allocation of an administrative principal is reduced to 113 for ordinary and DEIS Band 2 schools and 81 in DEIS Band 1 schools.

There are no plans to change these arrangements at this time. 

As part of the additional funding to schools this year, €10.2m has been allocated specifically to support Principals and Deputy Principals who undertake teaching duties in primary schools.  This funding will provide each teaching principal with a minimum of one release day per week, and release days for Deputy Principals in those schools that have an existing administrative principal for this school year.  More than 1,700 primary schools with teaching principals have benefitted from the increase in release days. 

Teaching Principals in schools with special classes are allocated a further 4 release days, in addition to the 37 allocated to each school with a teaching principal.

There are arrangements in place for schools to cluster their principal release days into a full-time post which will assist teaching principals to more effectively plan their release days for the benefit of the school.