Special Educational Needs.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2008

Thursday, 20 November 2008

Questions (185)

Thomas Byrne

Question:

185 Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Education and Science the decision on the allocation of a special needs assistant to a child (details supplied) in County Meath; and if this child is entitled to individual or shared access support from the National Council for Special Education. [42048/08]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Science (Deputy Batt O’Keeffe)

As the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers, for allocating resource teachers and special needs assistants to schools to support children with special needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. I have arranged for the details supplied by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.

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.