Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 February 2010
670 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the special needs assistants for a school (details supplied) in County Mayo; if the school will be allowed to retain its full complement of 13 SNAs in view of the fact that they are working with children who have various needs as identified and approved by special educational needs organisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6244/10]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support. 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. I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply. I wish to assure the Deputy that SNA support will continue to be made available to schools which have enrolled pupils who qualify for such support.
