Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2006
478 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 212 of 11 October 2006, if she will review this in view of the additional information now provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37542/06]
View answerI understand that additional information in support of the application for special educational needs supports for the pupil in question was provided to the special educational needs organiser (SENO) recently. The SENO will consider this information and convey a decision on the application directly to the school.
479 Dr. Cowley asked the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 292 of 18 October 2006, if she will review this in view of the additional information now provided; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37543/06]
View answerThe information supplied refers to the provision of additional resource teaching hours to the pupil in question.
I wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has been established as an independent statutory body with responsibilities as set out in the National Council for Special Education Act, 2005. With effect from 1 January 2005, the NCSE through local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing resource applications for children with special educational needs.
Where a pupil with special educational needs enrols in a post primary school, it is open to the school to apply to the local SENO for additional teaching support and/or special needs assistant support for the pupil. I have made arrangements to forward the additional information provided to the local SENO for attention.
