The review to which the Deputy refers was carried out by the national educational psychological service, NEPS, and covered a total of 788 applications from schools for resource teacher and-or special needs assistant support. The applications in question involved a total of 1,590 individual pupils in respect of whom support was sought.
Of the 1,590 pupils involved, the review concluded that the applications in respect of 948, 60%, of these pupils conformed with Departmental circulars and the resources sought in these cases have been sanctioned. Deficiencies were identified in the remaining 642 cases. Where possible in such cases, NEPS made a recommendation as to the nature and level of the resources which should be provided and such resources have been sanctioned. However, in some cases, for example, where the school was unable to produce the relevant assessment report, no recommendation for resources could be made.