Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 May 2010
162 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the basis upon which the assessment of a special education needs officer is made; if she will further indicate whether reports, educational reports, reports regarding discipline and school reports generally, are included in the assessment of the special education needs officer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18552/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE), through its network of local special educational needs organisers (SENOs), is responsible for processing applications from primary and post primary schools for special educational needs supports. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
I have arranged for the issues raised by the Deputy to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.
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.
163 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if any proposals have been made or received in her Department by interested parties for an independent appeal mechanism for those parents who have seen their child’s special needs assistants withdrawn; the responses she has made to such; her plans regarding same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18553/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no record of having received specific proposals such as those set out by the Deputy.
The Deputy is aware that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.
Local SENOs are a valuable resource in assisting parents with regard to their child's special educational needs. 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.
The Deputy may also be aware that the NCSE has introduced an appeals process whereby schools and parents, where appropriate, may seek to appeal the decision of a SENO in relation to the allocation of resources. Information regarding the appeals process is available on the NCSE's website at www.ncse.ie.
164 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the means by which concerned parents or guardians can, if necessary by means of a freedom of information request, view reports of the assessment of their children by special education needs officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18555/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) became subject to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Acts 1997 and 2003 with effect from 31st May 2006. Applications to the NCSE under the FOI Acts will be dealt with in accordance with the legislation.
Further details on how to apply to the NCSE for information under the FOI Acts is available on the NCSE website at www.ncse.ie.
Parents/guardians may also contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) directly to discuss their child's special educational needs using the contact details available on www.ncse.ie.
165 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the research undertaken to date on the educational performance of children whose special needs assistants have been withdrawn and any related research on the consequences for classes in general following the withdrawal of an SNA from those students who needed them; if she will publish any interim reports from such research if it is being undertaken; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18560/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to clarify that special needs assistants (SNAs) and teachers have separate yet complementary roles. SNAs provide care support to pupils with special educational needs who have been assessed as having such needs while teachers deliver education to the pupils.
It is not accurate to state that posts were withdrawn where students continued to need them. The terms and criteria for the SNA scheme have not changed and the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) continues to allocate SNA posts where the criteria are met in line with the Department's policy. Following a review by the NCSE, a number of SNA posts were withdrawn where it was found that the posts were no longer required because the students had either left the school or had diminished care needs.
The issue of commissioning research along the lines proposed by the Deputy does not arise.
