Questions are being raised after local TD Sean Canney discovered that almost half of schools in Galway East have had their teaching hours cut.
The Independent TD is calling for a serious review of the criteria for allocating Special Education Teaching Hours to primary schools
He says in some schools, the changes have resulted in a five hours cut to support hours per week, which amounts to a whole day's teaching.
Allocation of hours and cuts will now be based on 3 criteria-pupil enrolment, educational disadvantage and literacy/numeracy scores.
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However, Deputy Canney feels the current criteria gives no consideration to the varied needs children have:
