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Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005

Wednesday, 26 January 2005

Questions (1012, 1013, 1014)

Emmet Stagg

Question:

1074 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the delay in providing a national school place for a person (details supplied) when the NEP service is available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1050/05]

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Written answers

The correspondence referred to concerns an application from parents in November 2004, to enrol their child in a mainstream national school. I understand that a response to this application is awaited. I wish to inform the Deputy that the enrolment of a pupil in a national school is a matter for the school's board of management.

I further understand that the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, carried out a full educational assessment of this child recently. A copy of the assessment, which includes advice on the most appropriate educational provision was made available to the parents. It is a matter for the parents to consider the contents of the assessment report. NEPS will continue to offer support in this case. The National Educational Welfare Board is also liaising with the family.

Michael Ring

Question:

1075 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason the special needs assistance hours for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo are being reduced; and if this help can be restored. [1131/05]

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I can confirm that my Department received an application from the school to increase the level of special needs assistant, SNA, support from part-time to full-time for the pupil concerned as he has progressed to first class and will be in attendance for the full school day. Based on the information submitted by the school, my Department's professionals concluded that the appropriate level of SNA support warranted by the pupil was a lesser allocation than that originally sanctioned.

As the Deputy will be aware, special needs assistants may be approved to support pupils who have a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where their behaviour is such that they are a danger to themselves or other pupils. The criteria used for the assessment of the need for such support is outlined in my Department's circular 07/02.

A review of SNA provision in primary schools commenced in September 2004 and is continuing. The review is concerned with the level and deployment of SNA posts in mainstream classes. The intention is to ensure that the level of approved SNA support in schools and the manner in which that support is being allocated, are such as to ensure that the special care needs of pupils are being appropriately met. The school in question will be visited shortly as part of this review. My officials have been in contact with the school and have explained that the pupil concerned may retain the existing level of SNA support until the above review has been completed.

Michael Ring

Question:

1076 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason for the refusal of a special needs assistant to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [1132/05]

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I can confirm that my Department has considered an application for a special needs assistant, SNA, for the pupil in question. As outlined in my Department's circulars, special needs assistant, SNA, support may be approved for a pupil who has a significant medical need for such assistance, a significant impairment of physical or sensory function or where his or her behaviour is such that he or she is a danger to himself or herself or other pupils. Taking the above criteria into consideration and based on the information that was submitted to my Department, the pupil referred to by the Deputy did not qualify for SNA support.

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