Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach's office for choosing this Commencement matter. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Lawless, to the Chamber.

I wish to raise the need for additional special education teacher, SET, and special needs assistant, SNA, resources for the pupils in Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh in Cnoc na Cathrach.At present, 649 pupils are enrolled In Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, which is the largest national school in the city area. With that enrolment, there are 4.5 SNAs allocated and 155 hours allocated under the special educational teacher allocation, which is equivalent to 6.2 posts. This is not adequate and there is a need for at least two additional SNA posts and a further two SET posts. The model was reviewed and changed, and I understand these allocations are fine-tuned all of the time. At the system level, the total hours are allocated on the basis of 25% to enrolment, 68.5% to the educational needs profile and the remaining 6.5% to support educational disadvantage. It is imperative that the ongoing review results in additional resources.

It is recognised and generally accepted nationally and internationally that a quarter of the overall school population may have some form of special educational learning needs. That is quite a high figure. When there is an enrolment such as that at Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, it equates to many posts being necessary to meet the needs of the pupils. I have engaged with the principal and I know the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, has been engaging with the SENO, as well as the school principal. It is imperative that additional resources are made available under the review for Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh.

Is í Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh an bhunscoil is mó sa chathair, agus bhí sí mar phribhléid agam an scoil a oscailt go hoifigiúil nuair a bhí mé i m'Aire Stáit in 2019. Tá 649 dalta ag freastal ar an scoil i lár Chnoc na Cathrach, ceantar atá ag fás gach uile bhliain, ach níl ach 4.5 cúntóir riachtanas speisialta curtha ar fáil don scoil. Tá 6.2 post curtha ar fáil mar mhúinteoirí tacaíochta, ach teastaíonn níos mó. Teastaíonn beirt chúntóirí riachtanas speisialta breise agus beirt mhúinteoirí tacaíochta breise. Tá an t-éileamh sa scoil. Tá an príomhoide i dteagmháil leis an SENO, is é sin an duine a dhéanann an measúnú ar riachtanas speisialta den Chomhairle Náisiúnta um Oideachas Speisialta. Tuigim go bhfuil model nua i bhfeidhm le cúpla bliain anuas agus go bhfuil athbhreithniú ar siúl sa scoil faoi láthair. Bhí a lán tuismitheoirí i dteagmháil liom faoin ábhar seo, agus tá sé soiléir ó na tuismitheoirí agus ón bpríomhoide go dteastaíonn tuilleadh tacaíochtaí agus acmhainní sa scoil.

I have been contacted by many parents who have concerns about the allocation level and the fact there are additional needs. It is imperative that children get the best start, and providing additional posts is a solution to ensure that all pupils in need in Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh get the best start possible. If they do not get the best start in national school, that will have a knock-on effect in the years ahead. I know there is engagement between the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, the school and the SENO, and that a detailed review is ongoing. It is imperative that the review results in additional resources - both SNA and SET posts - for Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh for this year and the years ahead. It is a large school and, similar to all schools, it has additional needs.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Go raibh maith agat. I thank the Senator for raising the matter. I stress that enabling students with additional needs to receive an education appropriate to their needs is an ongoing priority for the Government. The SET allocations provide additional teaching support for students with special educational needs enrolled in mainstream classes in primary and post-primary schools. Approximately 97% of all children, including those with special education needs, are educated in mainstream classes. There has been an increase in the number of full-time SET posts across the country, increasing the overall availability of resources. This is the highest number of SET teachers ever in our schools. There will be 14,700 SETs supporting mainstream classes in the 2024-25 school year, which is an increase of 1,000 since the end of the 2020-21 school year.

The allocations to schools issued on 6 February 2024 and the allocation model for 2024-25 distribute 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. The SET allocation model is designed to distribute additional teaching resources across the entire school system. This is to ensure that additional teaching resources are available to support pupils with the greatest level of learning need. There is a defined level of resources available to distribute across the whole school system. It is important to understand that special education teacher resources are distributed to schools based on learning needs across the entire system.

The SET allocation for the 2024-25 school year for Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh was increased by 2.5 hours and its allocation now sits at 155 hours, which is in excess of six full-time teaching posts. The Department acknowledges that every school is different and that schools can experience unique circumstances that may be difficult to reflect in any standardised method. This is always a challenge when making allocations in respect of 4,000 schools. It is for this reason that the Department, working with the NCSE, has streamlined the review process for special education teachers. Schools that have any concerns can engage with the NCSE on their allocation.

The Department of Education can confirm that Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh did not submit an application for a review of its SET allocation to the NCSE. The National Council for Special Education is responsible for planning and co-ordinating school supports for children with special educational needs, including the allocation of SNA posts to individual schools. The NCSE has advised the Department that the special educational needs organiser for the school met with the school principal on 4 October and a review of the SNA allocation for the school was discussed at that meeting. However, an application for an SNA review has not yet been submitted to the NCSE by the school for its consideration. A school that believes it has insufficient resources to support the level of special education needs in its pupil cohort should make direct contact with the NCSE. When the NCSE completes its review, and if the NCSE recommends that additional resources should be provided, the Department of Education will immediately sanction the recommended increase.

I hope the path forward is clear from that response. There has been engagement between the SENO and the school and it appears an application will be the next step.

Seán Kyne (Fine Gael)
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We know a review is in preparation. It is clear from the reply that the Department acknowledges there may be unique circumstances in schools. Without talking about any individuals in this school, I am sure there are situations where, unfortunately, a child or children in a school have a high level of demand, which results in the need for additional resources. I hope that in such situations, including in Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, that would be taken into account in the review. From engaging with parents and the principal, I believe there is an absolute need for additional resources in this school to cater for the high level of demand and the high numbers within the school.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Senator for raising the question and giving me the opportunity to reassure him and the House that the Department of Education and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that all children can access an education suitable to their needs. Additional teaching and SNA resources are being provided in budget 2025 to ensure a record number of SETs and SNAs in schools in 2025, supporting children with additional needs. I gave the figures in my earlier remarks on the increases during this term of office.

The NCSE has progressed the recruitment of additional special educational needs organisers, advisers and team managers. This will ensure that schools can expect an improved level of engagement and support from the NCSE for this school year. The number of SENOs has increased from 65 to 120 at the start of this school year, and SENOs are now out in the schools, holding planning meetings. This will ensure strong relationships can be built and the NCSE intends to conduct up to 800 of these school planning visits by the end of this month alone. These meetings will consider the resource and training needs of the school, and they represent a welcome and positive two-way engagement between the schools and the NCSE through the SENOs. I am sure those additional resources will be very helpful.

Martin Conway (Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for taking all four Commencement matters this morning. We understand the pressures he is under, especially with an impending election. I thank Senator Kyne for raising this very important issue.