Paul Nicholas Gogarty
Ceist:422 Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Education and Science when she envisages that the current backlog of resource teaching will be cleared; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29724/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 November 2004
Ceisteanna (372)
Freagraí scríofa
All applications for resource teaching support received by the Department of Education and Science by the closing date of 30 June 2004 have been processed and decisions in the cases in question have been issued to the schools concerned. Subsequent priority was given to applications for special educational needs supports for new entrants received after the closing date. Decisions have also issued to schools in such cases. The Department is processing a number of appeals arising from the decisions and responses to the appeals will be conveyed to the schools when the process has been completed.
The National Council for Special Education has been established as an independent statutory body with the responsibilities set out in the National Council for Special Education (Establishment) Order 2003. The council has employed a number of special education needs organisers who will be a focal point of contact for schools and parents. It is intended that the organisers will process further applications for special educational needs resources. It is anticipated that the council and the organisers will become operational shortly. The Department of Education and Science is liaising with the council with a view to putting the revised arrangements for the processing of applications for special educational needs resources in place.