Vol. 571 No. 1
551 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to an application for a classroom assistant for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20318/03]
The pupil in question has been allocated two and a half resource teaching hours but does not meet my Department's criteria for special needs assistant support under the terms of circular 07/02.
552 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of schools which have outstanding requests for resource teacher allocation with his Department; the aggregate number of resource teachers needed to meet these additional requirements; and the reason there is such a delay building up in handling these requests within his Department. [20319/03]
607 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the situation concerning applications from primary schools for special needs assistants; the number of such applications which have not yet been processed; if applications received since a specific date have not been processed; if he will specify this date; if many children who started school in 2003 for the first time still have not had applications for special needs assistance processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20642/03]
610 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the nature of the review of special needs assistants in primary schools which is taking place at the moment; when is it likely to report; and when the findings will be implemented. [20645/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 552, 607 and 610 together.
553 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a number of children with disabilities could not start school in September 2003 due to the fact that the back-up services were not in place; and the reason this occurred a few months after the Special Olympics. [20320/03]
Every effort was made by my Department to ensure that all children with special educational needs due to start school this September were enabled to do so. To that end, priority was given over the summer period to the processing of applications for new entrants. On receipt of the supporting documentation, decisions on these new entrant cases issued between 18 and 27 August 2003. By the end of August, all complete applications in respect of new entrants to schools had been responded to. However, in some instances, delays occurred because no supporting professional reports were provided.
There were instances also where applications were not received until close to the closing date of 31 August. Where all necessary documentation was submitted, responses issued in these cases, also. Where officials in the special education section of my Department were made aware of particular difficulties surrounding the attendance at school of a new entrant pupil, my officials sought supporting documents and processed the application as a matter of urgency.
Some schools may find that, due to pupils with special educational needs having left or leaving the school, either teaching or special needs assistant resources should already have been or now fall to be suppressed. Where such schools have submitted an application for additional resources in the period 15 February to 31 August 2003, they may retain the surplus resources up to the level of resources applied for in the above period.
554 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that correspondence (details supplied) is immediately dealt with on behalf of the person concerned, and that appropriate resource support is provided for them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20324/03]
I am aware of an application for resource teaching support for the child in question. All applications for special educational supports received between 14 February 2003 and 31 August 2003 will be examined on the basis of the supporting professional report(s) and in the context of resources already available at the school. The process involves an examination of each application and supporting documentation by a dedicated team of inspectors and psychologists. The schools concerned will be informed of the outcome as early as possible in the current school year.
555 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that a person who has been recommended for resource teaching by the education psychologist, has same approved by his Department as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20325/03]
My Department has received an application for resource teaching support for the child in question. All applications for special educational support services received after 14 February 2003 and 31 August 2003 will be examined on the basis of the supporting professional report(s) and in the context of resources already available to the schools concerned. The process involves an examination of each application and supporting documentation by the national educational psychological service. The schools will be informed of the outcome as early as possible in the current school year.
556 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Education and Science if a special needs assistant will be provided for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin to enable them to attend a local national school. [20326/03]
I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. Officials in the special education section of my Department notified the school by letter dated 11 September 2003 that no resources could be approved under the terms of the relevant circular 07/02 due to insufficient evidence having been provided.
