Carol Nolan
Question:150. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of hiring ten additional special needs organisers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18525/17]
View answerWednesday, 12 April 2017
Questions (150)
Written answers
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is the statutory body with particular functions including planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), is responsible for the provision of a range of educational services at local and national level for students with special educational needs.
SENO responsibility includes planning and co-ordinating the provision of education and support services to children with special educational needs. Each SENO works in an assigned local area with parents, schools, teachers, psychologists, health professionals and other staff who are involved in the provision of services in that area for children with special educational needs.
The cost of appointing 10 additional SENOs would be in the region of €540,000 per annum.
A new Regional Support Service has been established within the National Council for Special Education was announced to assist schools in supporting children with special education needs. This service is operational from March 2017
The service includes the Special Education Support Service (SESS), the National Behaviour Support Service (NBSS) and the Visiting Teacher Service for children who are deaf/hard of hearing and for children who are blind/visually impaired (VTHVI service).
Considerations with regard to the full staffing implications which may arise from the amalgamation of these bodies and the incorporation of the new Regional Support Service within the existing NCSE operational structures are ongoing and will be established during the course of the integration of the services.
Consideration regarding new recruitments and the filling of any vacancies will form part of this process. However, a fully comprehensive service will continue to be in place for the new school year.