The circular to which the Deputy refers issued on 22 June 2004 and is available on my Department's website, www.education.gov.ie.
There were 2,865 special educational resource, SER, applications submitted to my Department for pupils in the low incidence disability categories from the commencement of the 2004-05 school year up to 30 June 2004. Of these cases, applications in respect of 1,551 pupils have been approved for SER support. This includes applications for pupils commencing school in September 2004. It is considered that all of the approved applications were accompanied by the relevant professional report(s). The remaining 1,314 applications received have been unsuccessful, are subject to appeal, have not yet been processed or are incomplete applications. The processing of the applications is ongoing.
The applications not yet processed includes applications for special needs assistant support. The Deputy may be aware that my Department is currently considering the levels and deployment of SNA support in mainstream national schools generally. A decision on these applications will be conveyed to schools as soon as this process has been completed.