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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2004

Tuesday, 29 June 2004

Questions (234)

Jack Wall

Question:

232 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare for a special needs assistant in September 2004 in view of the concerns of the consultant child psychiatrist in regard to this person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19548/04]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to refer the Deputy to circular SP ED 09/04 which may be accessed on my Department's website, www.education.ie, under the heading, Children With Special Needs. The circular advises schools that have applied for special needs assistant support that they will be advised of the outcome of their applications as soon as possible in advance of the next school year. I can confirm that my Department has received an application for a full time special needs assistant for the pupil referred to by the Deputy.

Special needs assistants may be approved to support a pupil who has a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where their behaviour is such that they are a danger to themselves or other pupils. The criteria used for the assessment of the need for special needs assistant support are outlined in my Department's circular 07/02. This circular may be accessed on my Department's website.

Since 1998 the number of special needs assistants in primary schools has grown from approximately 300 to in excess of 5,500 full-time and part-time posts. My Department continues to review existing arrangements for the allocation of special educational supports to primary schools. The basic purpose of the review is to ensure that each school has the level of resources required to cater for its pupils with special educational needs.

Account is being taken of existing levels of special needs assistant support allocation in schools. In cases where a reduction in the level of special needs assistant support is proposed, there will be provision for schools to appeal, having regard to the care needs of the pupils concerned. Details of the appeals mechanism will be set out in a communication to schools.

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