An investigation carried out by the Department of Education has revealed that children in the more affluent parts of Dublin have more resource teaching for special educational needs.

It was demonstrated that an hour of additional teaching support for every 6.5 pupils is given to parts of the southside of the city that are considered middle class, while the areas in the northside that are deemed working class have the figure of one hour for every nine students, the Irish Times reports.

The research considered four postcodes in the capital - Dublin 6W and Dublin 14 that are looked upon as middle class and Dublin 5 and Dublin 17 that are regarded as working class.

Ruairi Quinn, Minister for Education, is keen to alter the resource allocation system to ensure assistance is given depending on needs as opposed to the financial status of the parents.

A spokesman from the Department of Education and Skills said: "Some students with special educational needs don't have equitable access to assessments at present and are not receiving the full range of teaching, care and other supports they require."

Written by Donal Walsh

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