Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 January 2005
1243 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the exact hours given to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo by a special needs assistant; if the hours have been increased of late; and if this person has been provided with a laptop computer. [2038/05]
View answerI 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 the 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.
The position regarding the need for a laptop computer is that my Department's inspectorate advised that the school has an adequate supply of desktop computers and a laptop computer which may be used to assist the pupil. In the circumstances, the provision of a further laptop is not warranted. This position was confirmed to the school by letter on 5 May 2004.
1244 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will provide in tabular form the number of children from the Traveller community with special needs who are currently enrolled at fee paying post-primary schools around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2039/05]
View answer1245 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will supply in tabular form the number of children from the Traveller community with special needs who are currently enrolled at post-primary schools within the free education scheme around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2040/05]
View answer1248 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will supply in tabular form the number of children with special needs who are currently enrolled at post-primary schools within the free education scheme around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2043/05]
View answer1250 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will supply in tabular form the number of children with special needs who are currently enrolled at fee paying post-primary schools around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2045/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1244, 1245, 1248 and 1250 together.
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. In the current school year to date additional teaching support has been granted in respect of approximately 14,560 pupils with special educational needs enrolled in schools within the free education scheme; special needs assistant support has been granted in respect of approximately 2,050 pupils within the free education scheme; additional teaching support has been granted in respect of approximately 410 pupils with special educational needs enrolled in fee-charging second level schools; and special needs assistant support has been granted in respect of approximately 49 pupils enrolled in fee-charging second level schools.
Regarding the number of Traveller pupils with special educational needs, the position is that records held by the Department, in relation to provision for special education at post-primary, do not indicate whether the pupils concerned are members of the Traveller community. 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.
1246 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will supply in tabular form the number of children from the Traveller community with special needs who are currently enrolled at fee paying primary schools around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2041/05]
View answer1247 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will supply in tabular form the number of children from the Traveller community with special needs who are currently enrolled at primary schools within the free education scheme around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2042/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1246 and 1247 together.
My Department does not keep information on children with special needs by cultural background.
1249 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will supply in tabular form the number of children with special needs who are currently enrolled at primary schools within the free education scheme around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2044/05]
View answer1251 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if she will supply in tabular form the number of children with special needs who are currently enrolled at fee paying primary schools around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2046/05]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1249 and 1251 together.
The special educational needs spectrum may be seen to range from those with learning support needs to those with more severe educational and or care needs. My Department does not keep records of pupils in receipt of learning support as this is determined by the school principal in collaboration with the class teacher and the learning support teacher.
My Department conducted a census of pupils with special educational needs in non-fee paying primary schools during the 2003-04 school year. This information is currently held in a format that is not readily accessible.
My Department does not keep records on children with special needs attending fee paying primary schools and consequently the information requested by the Deputy is not available.
