National Council for Special Education

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 July 2013

Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Questions (350, 351)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

350. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for low-incidence resource teaching hours received by the National Council for Special Education since the closing date for the last round of applications in March 2013; and when a determination on those applications is expected to be announced. [32098/13]

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

351. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications for special needs assistant support received by the National Council for Special Education since the closing date for the last round of applications in March 2013; and when a determination on those applications is expected to be announced. [32099/13]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 351 together. The Deputy will be aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports, including Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support and Resource Teaching support for children with more complex low incidence special needs, as defined by my Department's Circular SP ED 02/05. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such supports.

All schools were advised to apply to the NCSE for resource teaching support for the 2013/14 school year by 15th March, 2013. The NCSE has now published details of all of their allocations for SNA and resource teaching support for the 2013/2014 school year. These details are available on the NCSE website, www.ncse.ie, and indicate the allocations which have been made for each school on a per county basis. As the Deputy's questions refer to the total number of applications received by the NCSE for SNA and low incidence resource teaching hours prior to the due date of 15th March, 2013, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NCSE for their consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.