Michael Creed
Question:316 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will provide a classroom assistant for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [29580/01]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
My Department allocates resource posts, special needs assistant posts and concessionary teaching hours to second level schools to cater for special needs pupils. Applications for such support are made to my Department by the relevant school authorities. Each case is considered on its merits and determined on the advice of the psychological service.
My Department has approved the allocation of additional teaching hours to County Cork Vocational Education Committee to cater for the educational needs of the pupil in question.
To date, the school authorities have not submitted an application to my Department for the allocation of a special needs assistant in respect of this pupil. If such an application is received it will be referred to the psychological service for a report and, as soon as the report has been received and considered, my Department will notify the VEC of the decision.