Vol. 540 No. 1
468 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that special needs assistants do not receive remuneration if the pupil for whom the special needs assistant's post has been sanctioned does not attend school; the proposals he has to ensure that special needs assistants will be paid even if the child to whom they are assigned is out sick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19627/01]
Special needs assistant support is allocated to schools in response to assessed special needs. Depending on the level of need involved, such support can be provided by way of full-time post allocations or part-time hour allocations. All such appointments are funded by my Department. Appointees to such posts are selected by the schools and employed by the boards of management on the basis of arrangements made a school level. I have asked my Department to investigate the issue raised by the Deputy.
