Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 March 2012
120 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding the withdrawal of special needs assistants posts from a special needs school (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15042/12]
View answer153 Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that four special needs assistant positions have been cut from a special needs school (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason for this reduction; and the alternatives that are available to the students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15370/12]
View answer177 Deputy Jonathan O’Brien asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number and job titles of staff he plans to make redundant in a school (details supplied); and if he plans to replace these staff members. [15558/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 153 and 177 together.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating 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 which now includes a requirement for them to have regard to the overall cap on numbers.
The NCSE has advised all schools, including the school referred to by the Deputy, of their SNA allocation for the current school year, taking into account the care needs of qualifying pupils attending the school. Schools have been advised to make applications to the NCSE for SNA support for the 2012/13 school year by 16 March, 2012 and will be advised by late May/early June 2012 of their allocation for the 2012/13 school year, based on the number of valid applications received by 16th March of this year.
The school referred to by the Deputy currently has 24 pupils enrolled. It has 1 Principal, 5 teachers and 16 SNAs, which by any standard is a very high level of resource allocation.
I understand that the NCSE has identified a potential surplus of 4 SNA posts in the school for next year, based on current pupil numbers, but that the final SNA allocation for the school will not be known until all applications, including applications for any new entrants are submitted for the coming school year.
I also understand that the NCSE is due to meet with the school shortly in order to discuss staffing requirements for the coming school year. The NCSE will advise the school by late May/early June of their SNA allocation for the 2012/13 school year.
