Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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In relation to EAL support, the Special Education Teaching allocation provides a single unified allocation for special educational support teaching needs to each school, based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses the Language Support (EAL) allocation that schools were allocated in previous years. All schools are advised in the first instance to review whether the needs of newly enrolled pupils can be met from within existing allocations.

The Department also provides specific English Language support to schools with pupils newly arrived into the country that have English as an additional language. Schools may apply for further language support through the staffing appeals process. Having considered the circumstances outlined by the school and having regard to the high number of pupils requiring EAL support, additional support may be approved to meet the educational needs of such pupils. The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.

In June 2023 my department announced a continuation of the scheme of SET and SNA support for schools with large enrolment of Ukrainian pupils for the 2023/24 school year.

The process implemented worked very well and a total of 548 schools received additional temporary special education teaching (SET) hours and 329 received additional temporary special needs assistant (SNA) supports in the 2022/23 school year.

The allocation of supports is based on graduated thresholds of Ukrainian enrolments which align with the SET and SNA allocations on a national basis. The process is responsive to the needs and the allocation is adjusted on circa a 6 weeks basis for any changes in the Ukrainian enrolment numbers in our schools.

To allow schools plan for the 2023/24 school year, they were advised in mid-June of their starting allocation for the new school year based on enrolment data at the 31st May 2023.

Schools who meet the thresholds at that time were advised of their temporary allocation in writing. In mid-September the enrolment data for each school was reviewed and updated temporary allocations based on any change in enrolments or new enrolments was issued to schools before the end of September for the first term of the new school year.

The enrolment data was further reviewed in late October and schools were provided with additional resources at that point if their enrolments had increased.

At present, enrolments are being reviewed so as to advise schools of their allocation for the start of new term in January.

Details of the scheme is available at gov.ie - Information for schools – Ukraine (www.gov.ie)