Denis Naughten
Question:657 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will respond to correspondence submitted to his Department on 7 May 2002 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16622/02]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
The schools referred to by the Deputy currently have the services of one full-time learning support teacher.
The needs of the schools in question will be taken fully into account in the event of additional learning support teacher posts becoming available for allocation.
Denis Naughten
Question:658 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will respond to correspondence sent to his Department on 23 April 2002 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16623/02]
A response to the correspondence in question will be issued very shortly.
Part-time special needs assistants are contracted to deliver a specified number of hours service per week in the schools to which they are attached. The duration of the service is based on the professionally assessed needs of the child or children for whom the service is provided.
Special needs assistants employed on a part-time basis are paid at an hourly rate. Under current legislation, 8% of total earnings are paid to each part-time special needs assistant in respect of holiday pay.
I have no plans at present to pay part-time special needs assistants through holiday periods.
Denis Naughten
Question:659 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will respond to correspondence submitted to his Department on 15 May 2002 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16624/02]
A response to the correspondence in question will be issued very shortly.
The level of resource teacher support allocated to the child in question in February, 2002 was in line with my Department's guidelines for such support having regard to the assessed needs of the child.