In February, I submitted a parliamentary question regarding resources for students with mild to moderate learning difficulties accessing level 2 learning programmes, L2LPs, and level 1 learning programmes, L1LPs, in mainstream classes. I received a reply but the real issue was deflected. The key question here is whether the Department of Education will allocate hours to schools in order to resource the teaching of L2LP or L1LP. At the moment, it is taken out of the pool of SET hours. I will give an example of one student in a school with eight hours per week of one-to-one learning phonics and alternative words. The reality is that L2LP and L1LP programmes need allocation of hours similar to the LCA programme, which is where schools receive half a teacher. The number of students may be low, but they are high in need. I will revert on this matter.

Sentiment score: -0.05

I will give the Minister of State this document. It sets out what the issue that needs to be addressed is. The student I was talking about receives maths tuition for two hours per week, covering basic units like money, the days in the week and the months in the year. Is there any TD in the Dáil with his or her child at this level of learning in secondary school who would not expect that child to have an allocation of teaching hours separate to the general SET hours? SET hours are allocated to dyslexic students, for example, who can learn but may spell phonetically. Where it looks or sounds like a word, it will be fine but the student is still able to complete the content of the junior cycle and senior cycle schooling. The reality is that the L2LP and L1LP programmes need allocation of hours similar to the LCA programme where the school receives half a teacher and the number of students may be low, but the need is high in these cases. I want the Minister of State to examine what is happening.

Sentiment score: 0.08