Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 February 2010
591 Deputy Michael Noonan asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the work in respect of children carried out at a school (details supplied) in County Limerick; if he will give a commitment to retain the full staff complement of seven teachers and 16 special needs assistants at this school; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7710/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume that the Deputy is referring to the review of Special Needs Assistant (SNA) allocations currently being carried out by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs).
The NCSE is an independent agency with responsibility for determining the appropriate staffing levels in relation to the support of pupils with special educational needs in mainstream and special schools. The NCSE, through its network of SENOs, is at present carrying out a review of SNA allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria governing the allocation of such posts are properly met. This is an exercise in identifying surplus posts which are in the system and which do not meet the current criteria — posts that have been retained when a pupil's care needs have diminished or where the pupil has left.
All schools have the names and contact details of their local SENO. Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie
I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
I wish to assure the Deputy that supports will continue to be made available to schools which have enrolled pupils who qualify for such support and children with special educational needs will continue to receive an education appropriate to their needs.
