Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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389. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to review and revoke the decision to remove the 15 hours of EAL in the primary school (details supplied). [44203/24]

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

The Department’s Inspectorate report Meeting Additional Language Needs: Whole-school and Classroom Approaches for Inclusive Language Learning outlines the best practice approaches in the teaching and learning of EAL involving mainstream teachers. The report underscores the importance of English language provision for educational equity and well-being and applauds schools for promoting diversity and belonging. The Department will use its recommendations to enhance learning experiences across all schools.

All schools are advised in the first instance to review whether the needs of newly enrolled pupils can be met from within existing allocations. Language supports are also included through the Special Education Teaching (SET) which encompasses an element of Language (EAL) support allocation. Under this SET model, schools are front-loaded with resources to provide support immediately to those pupils who need it without delay.

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. 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 school referred to, St Catherine's Infant School, was provisionally granted 2 temporary EAL posts for the 2024/25 school year, based on their projected enrolment of new-entrant pupils. This was a provisional allocation pending confirmation of the enrolment on 30th September. As the schools confirmed enrolment of newly arrived pupils had not reached the projected figures, St Catherine's Infant School had their EAL allocation reduced to 1 temporary post and 10 part time language support hours per week for 2024/25.

The school submitted an appeal to the October meeting of the Primary Staffing Appeals Board. The Board has upheld 1 temporary post and 10 part time language support hours per week for 2024/25 based on confirmed enrolments. The school has been notified of this decision.

Schools are advised to notify the Department of changes in enrolment throughout the 2024/25 academic year in respect of language support for new entrants and this sanction will be reviewed.