Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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456. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills an bhfuil athbhreithniú á dhéanamh ar an liúntas do Chúntóirí Riachtanais Speisialta (SNA) atá ag scoil (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [44782/24]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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457. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills an bhfuil athbhreithniú á dhéanamh ar an liúntas d’Uaireanta Speisialta Oideachais (SET) do scoil (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [44783/24]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 456 and 457 together.

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghabháil leis an Teachta as an cheist.

Samhail leithdháilte is ea an tsamhail Teagaisc Oideachais Speisialta chun uaireanta breise teagaisc a sholáthar do scoileanna chun tacú le riachtanais teagaisc a gcuid mac léinn. Nuair a tugadh isteach samhail 2017 cuireadh múnla bunaithe ar riachtanas in ionad múnla faoi stiúir diagnóis. Níl aon athrú air seo do 2024 agus tá an leithdháileadh do scoileanna chun tacú le gach leanbh ar scoil a dteastaíonn leibhéal éigin de thacaíocht bhreise teagaisc uathu

Dáileann an tsamhail leithdháilte do 2024/25 líon iomlán na bpost Teagasc san Oideachas Speisialta atá ar fáil de réir phróifíl riachtanas gach scoile. Déanann an tsamhail leithdháileadh ar bhonn roinnt ionchuir, lena n-áirítear líon rollaithe. Úsáideann sé freisin sonraí ar leibhéal na scoile ó thrialacha caighdeánaithe chun leibhéil riachtanas foriomlán agus riachtanas casta laistigh de scoil a léiriú. Féachann sé le hacmhainní teagaisc a dháileadh ar an mbealach is cothroime agus is féidir, ag cur san áireamh fianaise láidir ardchaighdeáin i leith scoileanna aonair.

Tá an Chomhairle Náisiúnta um Oideachas Speisialta freagrach as tacaíochtaí scoile a phleanáil agus a chomhordú do leanaí a bhfuil riachtanais speisialta oideachais acu lena n-áirítear Cúntóirí Riachtanas Speisialta a leithdháileadh agus athbhreithnithe.

Maidir leis an scoil ainmnithe ba mhaith liom tú a chur ar an eolas faoi na nithe seo a leanas:

Méadaíodh a leithdháileadh Teagasc Oideachais Speisialta do scoil 2024/25 faoi 2.5 uair. Is é a leithdháileadh anois ná 155 uair, is é sin 6 phost múinteoireachta lánaimseartha agus 5 huaire an chloig in aghaidh na seachtaine.

Ba é an méadú ar rollú na scoile ná 1.39% agus tá méadú 1.64% ar an leithdháileadh Teagasc Oideachais Speisialta chun tacú leis seo.

Níl iarratas déanta ag an scoil chuig an CNOS ar athbhreithniú ar a leithdháileadh Teagasc Oideachais Speisialta don scoilbhliain 2024/25.

Tá sé tugtha le fios ag an gComhairle Náisiúnta um Oideachas Speisialta gur tháinig an tEagraí um Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais le chéile agus leis an bpríomhoide ar 4 Deireadh Fómhair 2024.

Phléigh siad próiseas athbhreithnithe an Chúntóra Riachtanas Speisialta (CRS), agus chomhlánaigh an tEagraí um Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais an Taifead Comhairliúcháin Scoile Foirm 1 leo.

Níl iarratas ar athbhreithniú faighte fós ag an Eagraí um Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais ón scoil.

Gníomhóidh an Chomhairle Náisiúnta um Oideachas Speisialta ina leith a luaithe a gheofar.

I want to thank the Deputy for the question.

The Special Education Teaching (SET) model is an allocation model to provide schools with additional teaching hours to support the teaching needs of their students. When the 2017 model was introduced it replaced a diagnosis led model with one based on need. This has not changed for 2024 and the allocation to schools is to support all of the children in school who require some level of additional teaching support.

The allocation model for 2024/25 distributes the total available number of SET 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.

Special needs assistants (SNA) play a central role in the successful inclusion of students with additional and significant care needs into mainstream education, special classes and special schools ensuring that these students can access education to enable them to achieve their best outcomes and reach their full potential.

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

In relation to the school named I would like to advise you of the following:

Their special education teaching allocation for 2024/25 school was increased by 2.5 hours. Their allocation now sits at 155 hours which is 6 fulltime teaching posts and 5 hours per week.

The increase in enrolment of the school was 1.39% and the SET allocation has increased by 1.64% to support this. The school has not made an application to the NCSE for a review of their SET allocation for the 2024/25 school year.

The NCSE has advised that the special educational needs organiser (SENO) met the principal on 4 October 2024. They discussed the SNA review process, and the SENO completed the Form 1 School Consultation Record with them.

The SENO has not as yet received a review request from the school. The NCSE as soon as a review request is received will action it.