Where 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 support 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 having regard to a range of factors including the overall resources available to the school.
The school concerned has been allocated 1.87 whole-time equivalents per week additional teaching support and also 1.79 whole-time equivalents per week special needs assistant support for the 2004-5 school year to cater for the special educational needs of a number of pupils including the pupil to whom the Deputy refers. The level of support allocated 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.