Vol. 550 No. 4
791 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if, in view of the circumstances, the allocation of special assistance will be increased to a minimum of an additional 16 to 18 hours per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8833/02]
My Department allocates resource posts, special needs assistant posts and concessionary teaching hours to second level schools and vocational education committees to cater for special needs pupils. Applications for such support are made to my Department by the relevant school authorities. Each case is considered on its merits and determined on the advice of the psychological service.
My Department has approved 11 additional teaching hours per week and the services of a special needs assistant for six hours per week to cater for the special needs of six pupils, including the pupil referred to by the Deputy. The decision to allocate the additional teaching hours and the special needs assistant was based on advice from the psychological service.
