Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 September 2007
686 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; if, in view of an assessment, her Department will provide all or some of these facilities to the person; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19791/07]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO), for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. I understand that the parents of the child in question is currently liaising with the relevant SENO in this regard and that home tuition has been sanctioned for the child. All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
687 Deputy Paul Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Science if additional funding will be provided to a project (details supplied) in County Waterford to expand the number of places offered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19792/07]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government commits to the long-term funding for the centres that are currently in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with my Department on standards that will enable the Department to support them as primary schools for children with autism. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that discussions are underway in relation to this matter and I understand that arrangements are being made for my officials to meet representatives of the facility in question in the near future.
688 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if advice and assistance will be given to persons (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [19837/07]
View answer700 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Science if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3 will be assisted. [19913/07]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 700 together.
My officials have been in contact with the National Council for Special Education and I understand that the application on behalf of the pupil in question did not meet the criteria for individual resource hours under Specific Speech and Language Disorder. However, the pupil will have access to support from the school's learning support/resource teacher and he also has access to a speech and language therapist.
