Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2004
147 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, who was granted full-time special needs assistant hours, is now being cut to be given to another pupil who has been granted 12 hours; the reason one child’s allocation can affect another; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32600/04]
View answerI can confirm that my Department has sanctioned a full-time special needs assistant for the pupil referred to by the Deputy. A letter confirming this sanction issued to the school authorities on 29 November 2004.
148 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Education and Science the status of the application for the classroom assistant for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; the reason for the delay in processing this application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32601/04]
View answerWhere pupils with special needs enrol 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 these pupils. 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. Each application is considered on the basis of the assessed needs of the pupils involved and having regard to a range of factors, including the overall resources available to the school.
The school concerned has been allocated 25.20 additional teaching support hours per week and 27 hours per week special needs assistant support to cater for the special educational needs of the students enrolled, including the student referred to by the Deputy. The level of support allocated to the school in question by my Department was determined after detailed consideration of the school's application, the supporting documentation provided and having regard to the overall level of resources already available to the school to address special needs issues. It is a matter for the school authority concerned to deploy this allocation having regard to the assessed needs of individual pupils involved and in line with their evolving needs.
