Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
388. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress the NCSE has made in processing late applications for SNAs for the 2017-18 school year; the number of decisions that have been appealed in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38070/17]
View answerThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE), which is an independent statutory agency, is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.
The NCSE allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed.
The NCSE has advised all schools of their allocations for SNA support for the 2017/18 school year. Details of SNA allocations which have been made to schools have been published by the NCSE on their website at http://ncse.ie/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/NCSE-17_18-SNA-Teaching-Allocation-to-Special-Schools2.pdf.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2017/18, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE.
In circumstances where a school, or parent, is unhappy with the allocation of SNA support which has been made, or considers the level of support allocated is not sufficient to meet the care needs of the pupils concerned, the school or parent, may appeal that decision via the NCSE appeals process, details of which are set out at www.ncse.ie. The closing date for receipt of appeals is the 29th September 2017.
As the Deputy’s question relates to applications for SNAs support and appeals in respect of same, the matter has been referred to the NCSE for direct reply.
