Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 June 2026
170. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Youth if she will review the application from a school (details supplied) to allocate an additional 2.5 SET hours given the high level of need within the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47960/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that my department provides Special Education Teacher (SET) supports to primary schools to ensure that pupils with special educational needs receive appropriate additional teaching support.
The primary responsibility for the education of all pupils, including those with special education learning needs, is the class teacher.
The special education teaching (SET) allocation provides schools with additional teaching hours to support the learning needs of students in mainstream classes based on their profile of need.
The SET allocation model distributes the total available number of Special Education Teaching posts in line with each school’s profile of need.
It is a distribution model to ensure that the children with the greatest level of need in mainstream can get access to additional teaching support.
The allocation model uses data from schools to complete allocations annually. This data includes, enrolment data, data on educational needs profiles (literacy and numeracy) and data on educational disadvantage.
I can confirm that in relation to Corlea National School (SRN 14329U) it presently has an enrolment of 8 pupils which is a reduction of over 35% on the previous school year. The school, in addition to the mainstream teaching post, has been allocated an additional 15 SET hours based on the school's profile of learning need.
The NCSE have confirmed that the school submitted a SET Review request.
Furthermore, the NCSE have confirmed that based on the review application from the school that no additional learning resources are warranted to support the needs identified by the school. The school has been advised by the NCSE of the review outcome.
The NCSE remains available to the school to provide advice on the deployment of their SET allocation.
My department and the NCSE are committed to delivering an education system that is of the highest quality and where every child and young person feels valued and is actively supported and nurtured to reach their full potential.
