Vol. 550 No. 4
874 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he proposed an improvement regarding the terms and conditions of employment for special needs teachers in mainstream education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9275/02]
The terms and conditions of employment of special needs teachers is a matter for the teachers' conciliation and arbitration scheme. Any matters arising in regard to the improvement of the pay and terms of conditions of employment of these teachers would be a matter for discussion and agreement between the parties at the council.
875 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the degree to which special needs classroom assistants are available to meet requirements; the terms and conditions of employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9276/02]
Special needs assistants are allocated to address the special care needs of children with disabilities in first and second level schools. The level of support provided in any individual case is based on the professionally assessed needs of the individual child. Support can be provided on a full-time or part-time basis. Special needs assistants can be deployed to cater for individual or groups of children depending on the level of need involved.
At present, there are 2,869 whole-time equivalent special needs assistants in the primary system, including the special schools system. At second level, my Department has approved 219 whole-time equivalent special needs assistant posts. Responsibility for the recruitment and employment of special needs assistants rests with the relevant school authorities. Since April 2001 salary payments in respect of special needs assistants employed in the primary system are made through a centralised payroll operated by my Department. I will arrange to forward to the Deputy copies of my Department's circulars relating to the pay and conditions of employment of special needs assistants.
