Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 27 Feb 2003

Vol. 562 No. 3

Written Answers - Special Educational Needs.

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

161 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the extent to which he proposes to respond to the request for extra facilities at Presentation Convent, Maynooth, County Kildare; if psychological services or other special needs requirements are likely to be met in the context of the 2003 Estimates for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6067/03]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. N. Dempsey)

The 2003 schools building programme has now been published and full details in relation to individual projects are available on my Department's website at www.education.ie.

On the basis of the budgetary allocation it was not possible to include any further building projects in 2003. The budgetary allocation for 2004 and subsequent years will determine the rate of progress on projects that could not be included in this year's programme.

Applications received for any teaching or special needs assistants between the close of business on Friday, 8 November 2002 and close of business on Friday, 14 February 2003 are being treated as applications for the last school term and my Department will issue responses to these applications in the week commencing Monday, 7 April 2003.

The NEPS hopes to expand the service in Kildare in the next school year, the sequence of provision of service to different schools will depend on the take up of posts by those on the Civil Service Commission panel.

Question No. 162 answered with Question No. 137.