Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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329. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the additional supports and allowances that can be made to schools experiencing unpredictable mid-year enrolment and withdrawal, such as a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40378/25]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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My department has put many supports in place for schools with significant numbers of students who are either beneficiaries of temporary protection (BoTP) arriving from Ukraine or who are in the International Protection process. These supports include extra English as an Additional Language (EAL) supports, Special Education Teacher (SET) hours and additional special educational needs assistants, .

The allocation of these SNA and SET resources to support Ukrainian students and students who are in the International Protection process is made on a term-by-term basis, to allow for changes in school enrolment.

My department appreciates schools' collaboration and support in welcoming children in the international protection process and those from Ukraine. To date schools have been very welcoming of their new students.

In the 2024/25 school year, my department allocated an additional 1,363 EAL and 233 SET posts to schools to support the provision of education to Ukrainian students, and those in the International Protection process. 131 additional SET posts were allocated to primary schools, and 102 to post-primary schools.

Schools where 10 or more such students are enrolled are eligible to apply for additional Special Education Teacher (SET) resources. Schools are also eligible to apply for additional Special Needs Assistant (SNA) resources where 15 or more such students are enrolled, to a maximum of 25 teaching hours per week and a maximum of 3 SNAs on a temporary basis. My department allocated 329 additional SNA posts in the 2024-25 school year to assist with the education and integration of Ukrainian students and those in the International Protection process.

In 2023, my department published guidance for Educational Provision for Children from Ukraine, International Protection Applicants and Children with Recognised Status. There is also a central repository of information and CPD resources for school leaders and teachers to support cultural and linguistic diversity on the Scoilnet.ie website. These supports include EAL, intercultural and relevant curriculum supports developed by Oide, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) and the ETB sector.

NEPS (National Education Psychological Service) psychologists are actively engaging with school principals to provide advice and support. A dedicated helpline and email account is available for school principals.

My department also funds Regional Education and Language Teams, hosted in Education and Training Boards to assist families who have arrived from Ukraine or who are International Protection applicants to enrol their child or children in school.