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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 March 2004

Tuesday, 23 March 2004

Questions (262, 263, 264, 265)

John McGuinness

Question:

262 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Science the school and home support that has been put in place for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow; if a full assessment of the person has been completed; if all of the recommendations from that assessment have been acted upon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8818/04]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has received an application from the school in question for special educational resources, SER, for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003, including this application, are being considered at present. In all, more than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September and all of these cases were responded to before or soon after the commencement of the current school year.

The balance of more than 4,000 applications has been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service. These applications are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year or so. Account is also being taken of the data submitted by schools as part of the recent nationwide census of SER provision.

Processing of the applications is a complex and time-consuming operation. However, my Department is endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible and my officials will then respond to all applicant schools. Pending a response, schools are advised to refer to circular 24/03, which issued in September 2003. This circular contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.

Olwyn Enright

Question:

263 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science when a full time classroom assistant will be appointed to a ten year old student (details supplied) in County Clare, who suffers from a very rare condition resulting in frequent black-outs and seizures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8855/04]

View answer

I am aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. My Department has recently received an application for full time special needs assistant support for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. The school has confirmed to my Department that they will obtain and forward the relevant professional report(s) for this pupil. When the additional documentation is received, the application will be considered in the context of the criteria set out in the relevant departmental circulars and the existing level of SER provision in the school.

Mary Upton

Question:

264 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will take immediate action to assist a person (details supplied) to increase the number of hours of schooling he receives; and the other measures his Department will take to assist this person and his family. [8856/04]

View answer

The child referred to by the Deputy is currently in receipt of ten hours home tuition per week which is being delivered in the school environment during the afternoon. This is in an effort to provide continuity of education and continuing contact with the school in the hope it will lead to re-integration. The National Educational Welfare Board is currently seeking a school placement and is awaiting a response from a number of schools. Pending the outcome of these efforts, my Department will continue to fund the home tuition.

Dan Neville

Question:

265 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Education and Science when a resource teacher will be sanctioned for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick, in view of the fact that this pupil was psychologically assessed on 1 March 2003 and a recommendation of five hours per week to support learning needs and ten hours per week special needs assistant was recommended. [8857/04]

View answer

My Department has received applications for special educational resources, SER, from the school referred to by the Deputy, including an application for the pupil in question. SER applications received between 15 February and 31 August 2003 are being considered at present. In all, more than 5,000 such applications were received. Priority was given to cases involving children starting school last September and all of these cases were responded to before or soon after the commencement of the current school year.

The balance of more than 4,000 applications has been reviewed by a dedicated team comprising members of my Department's inspectorate and the National Educational Psychological Service. These applications are being further considered in the context of the outcome of surveys of SER provision conducted over the past year or so. Account is also being taken of the data submitted by schools as part of the recent nationwide census of SER provision.

Processing of the applications is a complex and time-consuming operation. However, my Department is endeavouring to have this completed as quickly as possible and my officials will then respond to all applicant schools. Pending a response, schools are advised to refer to circular 24/03, which issued in September 2003. This circular contains practical advice on how to achieve the most effective deployment of resources already allocated for special educational needs within the school.

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