Results 1-14 of 14 for segment:1983836 in 'Dáil debates'

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Olwyn Enright: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will report on the responsibilities of and work undertaken to date by the National Council for Special Education; if she has discussed with the council the system of weighted allocation of resources for children with special educational needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3283/05]

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The National Council for Special Education was established in December 2003 as an independent statutory body with responsibilities as set out in the National Council for Special Education (Establishment) Order 2003. The council has 12 members, all with a special interest in or knowledge of the area of education of children with disabilities. There have been 71 special educational needs...

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Olwyn Enright: The weighted system that the Minister claims she is reviewing was not to come into operation until September 2005. However, I have the impression that it is already partly in operation. Teachers, principals and parents inform me that children with special needs are being refused services on the grounds that the school is, for example, an all-girls' one with fewer resources. There appears to...

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The circular was issued last summer and will come into effect in September 2005. It was never the intention that the weighted system per se would be implemented prior to that date. In the interim, any applications received have been decided on the basis of needs. The idea behind the weighted system is that the staff member will be already assigned to a school or schools to pick up these needs...

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Olwyn Enright: Many children whose needs have not changed and who previously had a service have been refused resources in recent months. The assumption made is that the schools were operating on a different policy. I have come across a number of cases where it was the principal rather than the psychologist or the Department who informed the parents that their child did not come under the system. This...

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: Services are provided on the basis of the psychological report and the identified needs of the child. If it has been identified that the child does not need the service then he or she will not receive it. The main idea is to have someone in place for all students with high incidence of special educational needs, approximately 10% of the school population. Having heard the views of the council...

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: Question 2: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the fact that hundreds of schools throughout the country will lose resources which were allocated to their students as a result of psychological assessments if the proposed weighted system as outlined by circular SP ED 09/04 is implemented; if no child will lose resource support already granted; the...

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: The proposal involves a general allocation to all primary schools to cater for pupils with higher-incidence special educational needs, that is, pupils with borderline mild and mild general learning disability and specific learning disability. The allocation is also intended to support those with learning support needs, that is, those functioning at or below the tenth percentile on a...

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: I protest that I cannot get information on the number of children waiting for special needs resource teachers and assistants. The answer I have received is that the National Council for Special Education was put into effect on 1 January so figures are not available.

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Rory O'Hanlon: Will the Deputy stick to the question?

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: Will the Minister agree that while the new system is administratively easy, it is unfair, as proved in a series of reports? These reports include the study carried out by the national educational psychological service in the Dundalk and Leitrim areas that showed the wide divergence of needs varying from a school that might not need resource teachers to one that might need over 50%. However,...

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I ordered the review because I was conscious that many schools would lose out, particularly disadvantaged, small and rural schools, which I would not like to see happen. The basic principle is that it is a good idea to have the teaching staff in place in the school rather than children having to wait to have their psychological assessment review carried out or to have an application responded...

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Jan O'Sullivan: The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act suggests that children will be entitled to an individual assessment and statement of needs, yet this quota system is taking away that right before the legislation is even implemented. Will the Minister comment on that aspect?

Special Educational Needs. (3 Feb 2005)

Mary Hanafin: I do not accept this is the case. It targets the 10% of children who are expected to have learning difficulties in the field of literacy and numeracy. We will continue to make special provision for children with extra special needs and those with more severe difficulties who fall into the 3% category. Their needs will continue to be met. However, the idea is that support will be in place for...