Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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501. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when special schools will be given the same supports as mainstream schools in terms of pupils who come to the school with English as a second language in terms of additional hours; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22858/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that my Department will also provide supports to special schools in line with the agreed EAL allocation in circumstances where there is a recognised level of need. 

Schools can access a form to apply for these resources at the following link

www.gov.ie/en/collection/2d706-staffing-arrangements-at-post-primary-level-forms/#form-u-eal-2022.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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502. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will make secondary school qualified teachers available for students in special schools to undertake junior cycle subjects such as art, woodwork and home economics; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that some special schools have this allowance and others do not; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22859/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in special schools, in accordance with the policies of my Department.

Since 2012, special schools are provided with teaching staff on the basis of individual pupil profiles and disability categories of those pupils, as opposed to being based principally on school designation, in accordance with my Department's Circular 0042/2011. Special school staffing allocations are reviewed and updated each year by the NCSE and schools are staffed on the basis of each year’s current school enrolments.

In addition, some special schools are in receipt of part-time specialist teaching hours which were originally allocated to provide for specialist subjects for post primary aged students. The provision has been maintained by the special schools in receipt of same, but no expansion of the provision has been provided for in recent years.

The NCSE is currently finalising policy advice on the educational provision that should be in place for students educated in special schools and special classes.

This policy advice is due to be completed later this year. There will be no change to the staffing arrangements currently in place in special schools, pending the receipt of this policy advice.