Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 5

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

John Bruton

Question:

502 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science his policy regarding the provision of classroom assistants to help teachers in conventional national schools where a child in the class suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. [27621/01]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Special needs assistants are allocated to schools to support children with special needs including children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Such posts are allocated on either a full-time or part-time basis. The level of cover provided in each case is based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual child.

A circular issued by my Department in 1999 advised all schools of the procedures to be followed in making application for support services in respect of children with special needs, including children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. All such applications are required to be supported by relevant assessment reports and to be submitted through the school's local inspector.