Vol. 571 No. 1
589 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science, further to Parliamentary Question No. 245 of 13 May 2003, the action he intends to take in the matter; if he will examine the case in detail in view of the negative response the family received from his Department; the reason a special needs assistant was not granted in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20478/03]
I wish to inform the Deputy that the special education section of my Department received further documentation from the school on the two pupils in question. As a result of a further review by the national educational psychological service, the school has been advised that support amounting to four resource teaching hours has been approved for one of the pupils. The allocation of resource teaching hours for the other pupil has not been approved on the basis that the pupil does not meet the criteria of circular 08/02. Special needs assistant support was not approved for either pupil on the basis of insufficient evidence to support the application.
