Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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26. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the ongoing review of SET teaching hours at primary schools; the number of additional hours allocated, if any; the number of schools involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23651/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I want to thank the Deputy for the question.

The allocation model for 2024/25 distributes the total available number of Special Education Teaching posts in line with each school’s profile of need. The model makes an allocation on the basis of a number of inputs, including enrolment numbers. It also uses school-level data from standardised tests in order to reflect levels of overall need and complex need within a school. It seeks to distribute teaching resources in the fairest possible manner, taking into account quality, robust evidence in respect of individual schools. This ensures that resources are in the right place at the right time to meet the needs of children in mainstream.

The Department acknowledges that every school is different, and that schools can experience unique circumstances that may be difficult to reflect in any standardised method. This is always a challenge when making allocations in respect of 4,000 schools.

It is for this reason that the Department, working with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has streamlined the review process for Special Education Teaching hours and schools who have any concerns can engage with the NCSE on their allocation.

The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has responsibility for planning and coordinating school supports for children with special educational needs including SET reviews.

The specific purpose of the review process is for the NCSE to provide to the department their recommendation in terms of the additional resources required (if any) and the quantum of need.

I can assure the deputy that any recommendation made by the NCSE with regards to additional hours will be approved by my department.

A school could request a review of their allocation on the NCSE portal up to the end of March 2024 and the NCSE has committed to completing the reviews in the period March to May 2024.

A total of 218 applications have been received from schools.

Applications from new and rapidly developing schools (32) were dealt with on a priority basis and the NCSE recommended to my department any increase which was warranted for each school and the quantum of same.

My department immediately approved the allocation increase and the NCSE advised those schools of the outcome.

On the recommendation of the NCSE my department has allocated a total of 427.5 additional Special Education Teaching hours to new and rapidly developing schools. Depending on the profile of the school the additional allocation ranges from 2.5 hours to 27.5 hours per school. The average additional allocation for this first tranche of schools is approximately 13.5 hours.

The NCSE have advised that the review process is ongoing and on schedule for completion by the end of this month for all schools who applied in March. The NCSE will advise each school of the outcome of the review in writing.

There are a small number of schools approximately 10 who applied outside the window or where documentation was received late, these schools will receive their confirmation in early June as to the outcome of their applications.

It is important to note that Special Education Teaching hours are only one component of support for children in mainstream, but the most important support is the mainstream class teacher.

The pupil teacher ratio at primary level is now 23:1 which means there are more mainstream teachers than ever before in our educational system. There will be in excess of 14,600 Special Education Teachers supporting mainstream classes in the 2024/25 school year, which is an increase of 1,000 since the end of the 2021 school year. This is the highest number of Special Education teachers ever in our schools.