Emmet Stagg
Ceist:604 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding the special needs required for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and when these needs will be met. [7852/02]
Written Answers. - Special Educational Needs.
My Department's inspectorate received a request for special support services for the pupil in question on 1 March 2002. This request is being considered. Officials in my Department will be in contact with the school authorities when the inspectorate's report has been received and considered.
John Bruton
Ceist:605 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason he has failed to respond to representations dated 23 August 2001 on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Meath. [7853/02]
With regard to the child in question, I confirm that, following receipt of a psychological assessment report on 7 February 2002, my Department approved an additional 2.5 hours resource teaching support per week for the child. This allocation brings the level of resource teacher support being made available to the child to five hours per week. Special needs assistant support of five hours per week has also been approved.
I regret the Deputy's representations on behalf of the child in question were not responded to earlier. The delay arose because of the very large number of applications for special support services being received in my Department at the time as a result of the Government's decision that all children with special needs in primary schools should have an automatic entitlement to a response to their needs. The level of growth in this area is reflected in the fact that the number of resource teachers supporting children with special needs in the primary system has been increased from some 100 to more than 1,500, and the number of special needs assistants has been increased from less than 300 to more than 3,000.
My Department is in the process of introducing new streamlined arrangements for processing applications for resource teacher and special needs assistant support in order to ensure a more timely response to such applications.