Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 January 2019
81. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Education and Skills if it is planned to make urgent provision for a student (details supplied) to attend the autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit in a school and to be provided with a full-time special needs assistant, SNA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2155/19]
View answerMy officials have informed me that the student referred to by the Deputy has recently been enrolled in a Post Primary ASD special class placement in a school in the area.
Post Primary ASD special classes are resourced to cater for six pupils with complex educational needs and are staffed with a reduced PTR of 6:1.5 with a minimum of two Special Needs Assistants.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible 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.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2018/19, 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.
