Principals struggle to navigate complex and chaotic SET allocation process
13-03-2025
Independent TD for Offaly Carol Nolan has called for an immediate review of the Special Education Teaching (SET) Allocation Model that she says is the cause of significant pressure on primary school principals who are often left ‘scrambling’ for resources in order to meet the needs of students with complex needs.
Deputy Nolan was speaking after engaging with the National Principals Forum (NPF) on the issue.
The NPF recently conducted a survey on the SET Allocation Model with over 550 primary school leaders participating. This included all principals in Offaly.
The survey revealed that 71% believe their SET Allocations for the 2025-26 academic year are inadequate to meet their school’s needs. The NPF also say that for the second consecutive year, Complex Needs criteria were not considered in the allocation process, with an overwhelming 83% of respondents stating that this omission fails to reflect the true needs of their students:
“The overwhelming consensus that is emerging points to a system that is simply not fit for purpose, and on that basis, I am supporting the call for an urgent review,” said Deputy Nolan.
“We know that the allocation model adopts a standardised approach to provides schools with additional teaching hours to support the teaching needs of students in mainstream classes. But the problem is that basing allocations on standardised test scores is totally inadequate for children with complex needs.”
“It is deeply alarming to hear principals and school leaders describe the process as chaotic, stressful, ridiculous and frustrating. These are all terms used by school leaders in response to the NPF survey.”
“What the NPF are suggesting is a new approach where principals would directly input their students’ needs into the government’s Primary Online Database (POD), allowing allocations to be based on real-time data rather than outdated Standardised Test scores.”
“I think at the very least Minister Helen McEntee and the Department need to consider this as an option going forward,” concluded Deputy Nolan.