I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the school to which the Deputy refers has been allocated 16 additional teaching hours per week for the 2004-05 school year to cater for the special educational needs of pupils enrolled, including the pupil in question. My Department allocates additional teaching support and special needs assistant support to second level schools and vocational education committees to cater for pupils with special educational needs. Applications for such support are made to my Department by the relevant school authority. Each application is considered on the basis of the assessed needs of the pupils involved and the nature and level of support provided is determined on the advice of the psychological service.
It is a matter for the school to deploy this allocation in accordance with the assessed needs of the pupils concerned and also to review this deployment in line with the evolving needs of the pupils.