Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004

Tuesday, 11 May 2004

Questions (169)

Paul McGrath

Question:

199 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications received in his Department for the school year from September 2003 for special needs assistants for children who were then commencing school; the number of these applications which had recommendations from professional assessors supporting such appointments; and the number of successful applications in this category. [13415/04]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

My Department received about 910 applications for special educational needs assistance in respect of new entrants commencing school in September 2003. Of these, 656 were in respect of some level of special needs assistant support. SNAs were not approved in 100 cases and access to SNA support was sanctioned in the case of 556 applicants.