Special Educational Needs

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2011

Tuesday, 25 January 2011

Questions (41)

Michael Noonan

Question:

146 Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills when a child (details supplied) in County Limerick and three other children on the waiting list for a special school in Limerick will be admitted to the school; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3473/11]

Written answers

Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Mary Coughlan)

The Deputy may be aware that the enrolment of a child in a school is a matter in the first instance for the parents of the child and the Board of Management of a school. My Department has no role in relation to processing applications for enrolment in schools.

The Deputy may also be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in all mainstream and special schools. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in this regard.

The NCSE has advised my Department that they are satisfied that there are sufficient staffing resources at present in the school concerned, which would allow them to cater for all of the children in the school, including those proposed for enrolment to the planned new special class at the school.

All schools have the names and contact details of their local NCSE Special Educational Needs Organiser (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.