Question for the Minister of Education and Skills (Ms. Jan O’Sullivan, TD)
To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to implement the model of resource teaching and learning support proposed by the National Council for Special Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer
For WRITTEN ANSWER on Wednesday, 14 January 2015.
REPLY
I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) published its report on a proposed new model for allocating teachers for students with special educational needs on 18 June 2014.
The report recommends that a new allocation model should be developed; based on a school’s educational profile, while providing a baseline allocation to every mainstream school to support inclusion. My Department is currently collecting and considering information which will be required to develop the proposed new model.
Following consideration of this data, my Department will also consider whether, and from what date, a new model might be implemented.
I also wish to advise the Deputy that following publication of the working group report, my Department invited education partners, stakeholders, and parent representative groups to make written submissions in relation to the NCSE report. To date, 27 written submissions have been received from interested parties. My Department also held a number of consultation meetings on 1 and 3 October last with stakeholders, education partners and parent representative groups.
A further series of consultations are scheduled to take place with these groups in the coming weeks, which will assist in developing the proposals in relation to the new model.