Vol. 571 No. 3
187 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of children waiting for their applications for resource teachers, special needs assistants and remedial teachers to be approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21793/03]
My Department's special education section received almost 5,500 applications for special educational needs assistance from 1,830 schools during the period 15 February to 31 August. Of these some 780 applications schools in respect of new entrants were prioritised in an effort to ensure resources were in place to enable these children to access the education system. In some instances delays occurred because no supporting professional reports were provided. Where my officials were made aware of particular difficulties surrounding the attendance at school of a new entrant pupil, supporting documentation was sought and applications processed as a matter of urgency.
The remaining 4,720 applications are now being processed. A dedicated team of psychologists and inspectors has been established for that purpose. While the process will be complex and time consuming, every effort will be made to notify schools of the outcome at the earliest possible date.
At present it would not be possible to predict the outcome in terms of resource teacher and special needs assistant posts. Already in excess of 2,300 resource teacher posts and almost 5,500 full and part-time special needs assistant posts have been approved for primary schools since the automatic response to SEN was introduced in 1999.
The number of learning support teachers now stands at 1,531 enabling a learning support service to be accessed by every primary school pupil in the country. I have no plans to expand the learning the service at this time.
188 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a special needs assistant has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Laois who has Down's syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21794/03]
189 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason he has made the special education needs support provided to a person (details supplied) conditional on a review of all existing SEN resources in that school; the reason it is being made conditional on progress being made by other pupils in the school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21795/03]
190 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will grant full resource assistance to a person (details supplied) in County Laois who has received a report from a clinical psychologist stating that full-time care is required due to multiple disabilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21796/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 to 190, inclusive, together.
On 21 August my Department approved 2.5 hours resource teaching support to cater for the needs of the child in question. This allocation is currently in place. Special needs assistant support was not sanctioned as the role outlined for the special needs assistant was not in line with my Department's circular 07/02. NEPS reviewed the documentation provided and the original decision was upheld.
