Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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1059. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of middle management posts in primary and secondary schools in each of the years 2008 to 2021, in tabular form. [40916/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The information will be compiled and forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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1060. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress on the paused model that has been introduced in advance of the introduction of a front-loaded model for the next school year, that is, 2022-2023; the number of schools that are awaiting exceptional reviews by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41015/21]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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In light of the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the introduction of the new Frontloaded Allocation Model for SNAs for students in mainstream classes in primary and post -primary schools was deferred for a further year to the beginning of the 2022/23 school year.

The disruption prevented the delivery of the necessary training and information workshops to support the roll out of the new allocation model which had been planned for earlier this year.

The frontloading of SNAs for mainstream classes is a key part of the School Inclusion Model. The Department and NCSE are committed to its introduction as part of the development of that Model.

The training and workshops are designed to help school leaders and teachers in their in-school planning for the new model and their engagement with parents. These sessions will now be rescheduled to take place during the 2021/22 school year. Further information will be issued by the NCSE in due course.

In order to minimise disruption for schools, in the current circumstances, and to provide for continuity of allocations, the following arrangements for the allocation of Special Needs Assistants for mainstream classes for the 2021/22 school year were announced:

- Existing mainstream class SNA allocations in schools on 30 April 2021 will be maintained and will automatically rollover into the 2021/22 school year.

- No school will therefore receive an allocation less than that which they had on 30 April 2021.

- SNAs currently in mainstream settings can continue in post for the next school year in the normal way.

- Priority consideration was given by the NCSE to applications for increased support for the 2021/22 school year. In particular, applications from schools with no SNAs and developing schools were prioritised with determinations made before 30 June. Other applications will be processed in order of date received.

- As in previous years, where circumstances change during the course of the 2021/22 school year that materially increase the level of care need in a school to the extent that the school can clearly demonstrate that it cannot be met within the existing SNA allocation, the school may apply to the NCSE for a review. Detailed information on the NCSE exceptional review process is published on the NCSE website ncse.ie/for-schools.

The NCSE published SNA allocations on their website www.ncse.ie.

SNA allocations for special classes and special schools are not affected by this arrangement.

Circular 0029/2021 has been published and advises schools of the arrangements for the allocation of SNAs for the 2021/22 school year.

Provisions set out in Circular 0030/2020 has been extended for the 2021/22 school year.

Circular 0029/2021 and Circular 0030/2020 are available on the Departments website.

The NCSE have confirmed that 1,488 SNA Exceptional Review applications were received, and outcomes notified to schools. Of these, 778 schools received an increase amounting to 543.55 additional posts allocated. The number of appeals received was 145. In relation to the number of schools awaiting exceptional review by county, your question will be forwarded to the NCSE for direct reply.