Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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150. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a decision to overturn an application which was refused for EAL support for a pupil (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25996/24]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has adapted to the dynamic landscape of student enrolment. This has been particularly effective in the context of the pace and volume of newly arrived students fleeing the war in Ukraine and the ongoing increase in students, who require EAL supports to fully access the curriculum.

The Special Education Teaching (SET) allocation provides a unified allocation for special education support teaching needs to each school based on each school’s educational profile and also encompasses an element of Language (EAL) support allocation. Under this SET model, schools are frontloaded with resources to provide support immediately to those pupils who need it without delay.

The Department has prioritised enhancing English as an Additional Language (EAL) support, recognising the critical role of language proficiency in successful integration and academic achievement.

These supports to schools, based on application process, are provided for new-entrant pupils (i.e., pupils arrived in the country in the last 2 years with an EAL requirement). Similar to previous years, supports may also be provided for schools with a high concentration of pupils that are not classified as new-entrant pupils but who have an EAL need i.e., those pupils with less than 3 years EAL support and register less than B1 in an English proficiency test.

The Department's policies enable flexible resource allocation to ensure that the resources follow children in the event of them changing schools. Schools may also apply for further language support by an application process during the school year, should their circumstances change.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board considered a staffing appeal from the school referred to by the Deputy. The Appeals Board has deemed the appeal ineligible and the school has been notified of this decision.

The Primary Staffing Appeals Board operates independently of the Department and its decision is final.