Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 October 2004
312 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science when a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be allocated the special needs assistant they require; if this case can be prioritised; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26049/04]
View answerWhere a pupil with special educational needs enrols in a post-primary school, it is open to the school to apply to my Department for additional teaching and-or special needs assistant support for the pupil. My Department allocates additional teaching support and special needs assistant support to second level schools and vocational educational committees to cater for pupils with special educational needs. 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.
The level of resources allocated by my Department was determined after detailed consideration of the school's application, the supporting documentation provided, including the recommendations made by the National Educational Psychological Service, and having regard to the overall level of resources already available to the school. My Department has recently received an application for additional resources to cater for the special needs of the student in question and this application is currently receiving attention. The school will be notified of the outcome of the application as soon as possible.
