Vol. 552 No. 1
809 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Science the entitlement to special needs assistance children with speech and language disorders have when they return to mainstream classes; the criteria used to determine each child's need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11914/02]
Special needs assistants are provided specifically to address the care needs of pupils with special educational needs. Such support can be provided to pupils attending special schools or special classes attached to ordinary schools or to pupils attending ordinary schools on a fully integrated basis.
Decisions regarding the allocation of special needs assistant support are made on the basis of professionally assessed needs of the individual child. Pupils with speech and language disorders would not typically require the support of a special needs assistant. However, it is open to any school to make application for such support where it is considered necessary. All schools were recently advised by my Department of the procedures to be followed in making any such applications.
