Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Feb 2002

Vol. 549 No. 3

Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.

Enda Kenny

Question:

442 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Education and Science if special needs assistants, who assist at primary school with infant children, can be made permanent as assistants in respect of the full time they spend with infants; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this non-recognition of permanence causes difficulties for special assistants, and means that many leave thereby causing distress to infants, concern for parents, and difficulties for teachers in further recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6717/02]

Minister for Education and Science (Dr. Woods)

Special needs assistants may be appointed to schools to assist in the care of pupils with disabilities in an educational context. They may be appointed to a special school or a mainstream national school to assist school authorities in making suitable provision for a pupil or pupils with special care needs arising from a disability. The appointments are made on the basis of the professionally assessed needs of the pupil in question. The allocation of special needs assistant support may be made on a full or part-time basis.

The attendance pattern of junior infant children generally attracts part-time special needs assistant support and the question of permanency would not arise. Responsibility for the recruitment and employment of special needs assistants in schools rests with the school authorities. Information regarding particular employees who may be leaving their posts and the reasons for such departures is not therefore available in my Department. I remain, however, committed to developing services for special needs pupils so they receive appropriate supports.