Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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460. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the basis upon which special education hours are allocated to a school; the format of an assessment or pre-assessment; the training provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2814/25]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to thank the deputy for the question

The SET model is an allocation model to provide schools with additional teaching hours to support the teaching needs of their students in mainstream classes. The mainstream class teacher has primary responsibility for the progress and care of all children in their classrooms, including children with additional learning needs.

All data utilised in the model is sourced from within the education sector and is therefore fully validated and assured. The only external data being used within the model is the HP Index of deprivation which is used by all government departments for identification of disadvantage.

It is important to understand that SET resources are distributed to schools based on learning needs across the entire system. School profiles are updated annually.

The allocation model provides schools with autonomy to manage and deploy additional teaching support within their school, based on children and young peoples identified learning needs. Schools must deploy their SET resources in line with the Continuum of Support. The guiding principle of the continuum is that the student with the greatest level of need should receive the greatest level of support.

The Inspectorate, NEPS and the NCSE in conjunction with my department provide schools with Guidelines to aid schools in Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs in Mainstream Classes. The guidelines were updated and published on the 10th December 2024 along with information for parents/guardians and for children and young people. They outline how schools are expected to support children and young people with special education needs that have been identified through the continuum of support.

The following link provides access to the guidelines and the continuum of support framework for your information:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/688f1-set-guidelines-and-supporting-documentation-to-aid-schools-in-supporting-childrenyoung-people-with-special-education-needs/