NEWS that additional resource teaching support is to be allocated for children with Down Syndrome has been welcomed locally.
The Government has agreed that additional resources will be allocated to schools as an interim measure to support those children with Down Syndrome who are not already supported through the National Council for Special Education’s (NCSE) annual allocation process.
Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan, is introducing the measure now in recognition of the length of time it will take to introduce the new resource teacher model recommended by the NCSE.
Under the interim measure schools will receive 2.5 resource teacher hours per week for each qualifying child.
These supports are being provided in recognition of the fact that children with Down Syndrome experience a cluster of difficulties relating to this syndrome, in addition to general learning difficulties, including speech and language developmental delays.
These interim allocations will remain in place until the proposed new model for allocating teaching supports to children with special education needs comes into force.
In early February, it was announced that it had not been possible to address fully some of the concerns relating to that new model, in time for it to be implemented from September 2015.
The Department of Education and Skills is currently working to devise a pilot of the new model, which schools could opt into on a voluntary basis.
Minister O’Sullivan said she had the opportunity over recent weeks to meet with Down Syndrome Ireland, and different groups of parents of children with Down Syndrome.
“It has been clear to me that the cluster of difficulties which children with Down Syndrome face, require that some additional teaching supports be made available,
? she said.
“Over the next couple of years, we will pilot and then implement a new model of allocating supports that will remove the need for parents to pay for assessments, and for children to receive a diagnosis in order to receive additional teaching support.
“In the meantime, I have decided that the needs of children with Down Syndrome are sufficient to warrant an interim allocation.
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While there are expected to be some additional costs arising from this decision, Minister O’Sullivan made it clear that any additional costs during 2015 would be met from within the existing budgetary allocation for 2015.
Dublin Bay North TD Finian McGrath (Ind) welcomed the news.
“I have been pushing this matter for many years and it was my bill – Down Syndrome (Equality of Access) Bill – that led to this change,
? said Deputy McGrath.
“The Government did not oppose my bill and now it’s being implemented.
“I welcome that but the fight still goes on for all children with a disability.
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Deputy McGrath said he would like to thank the parents and other Independent TDs for their great support on the issue.
Local Fianna Fáil Senator Averil Power also welcomed the announcement.
“I have been working with Down Syndrome Ireland on this issue for the past two years and lobbied the Minister (O’Sullivan) on their behalf,
? said Senator Power.
“I am delighted their campaign has been successful. I understand that 500 to 1,000 children will benefit from the decision.
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