Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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369. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will restore the special education teaching hours for a school (details supplied) in order that they can continue to provide the support needed by the parents of the area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49455/22]

Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for the question and would like to advise the following:

The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s unique educational profile.

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

Special Education Teachers provide additional teaching support for students with special educational needs enrolled in mainstream classes in primary and post-primary schools.

The SET allocation model has been in place since 2017. The allocation model, which was recommended by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), is designed to distribute the total available number of Special Education Teachers across primary and post-primary schools based on the relative need of each school, as evidenced by a number of key indicators.

The SET model is a fairer and more transparent way of allocating teaching resources to schools.

The SET model represented a significant shift in the way that students with SEN are supported in mainstream classes. Previously, students needing additional teaching support required a diagnosis in order to access support which caused delays in providing the support and also imposed a burden on both schools and parents. The change in policy was welcomed by both schools and parents. The Model is based on the principle that those students with the greatest need receive the most support.

When the SET model was introduced, it was designed to be updated on a regular basis (most recent update was for 2022/2023 school year) so as to distribute the total available resources across the school system based on profiled need. Because the level of student need may change in a school over time, some schools will gain under this distribution, with these gains balanced by equivalent reductions in schools where the model indicates reduced need. Re-profiling is the means of ensuring that new or increasing need in schools is met by transfer/redistribution of teaching resources from other schools whose need has reduced as shown by the model.

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.

North Bay Educate Together National School may seek a review of their allocations by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), 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.

If a school wishes to make an exceptional needs review appeal, they should contact the NCSE at www.ncse.ie