I assume that the Deputy is referring to the review of special needs assistant (SNA) support currently being carried out by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
The Deputy will be aware that the NCSE, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), has been carrying out a review of SNA allocations in all schools with a view to ensuring that the criteria governing the allocation of such posts, as outlined in my Department's Circular 07/02, are properly met. This was 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. At the same time, the NCSE is allocating additional posts where the criteria are met. The terms and criteria for the SNA scheme have not changed.
The NCSE has advised that, in deciding the level of SNA support to be allocated to the school, the SENO visited each school and examined the professional reports for each child with special educational needs. Every school was requested by the NCSE to inform parents that the review was commencing and to invite them to contribute, should they wish, either by phone contact or by appointment during the review. The NCSE has further advised that many parents participated in the process.
The review process also allowed SENOs the opportunity to discuss with the Principal, teachers and SNA the manner in which the care needs of the child arose in the school and also to look at the school records e.g. incidence reports. Finally the SENO observed the student in the classroom and schoolyard settings. In order to fully review the needs of all pupils enrolled in special schools, the NCSE arranged for a team of 2 to 3 SENOs to visit each school.
The NCSE has published its report on the Review of SNA Allocation to Schools April 2009 — March 2010 on its website www.ncse.ie. A small number of schools remain to be reviewed and the NCSE has indicated that these will be reviewed by the end of the current academic year.
Where a pupil with special educational needs is in receipt of SNA support in a school and moves to another school, the new school applies for SNA support to the SENO. Such applications are considered by the SENO in the context of the needs of the pupil at the time of transfer to the new school as well as the available resources in the new school.
I wish to confirm for the Deputy that my Department is very supportive of the SNA scheme. It has been a key factor in both ensuring the successful integration of children with special educational needs into mainstream education and providing support to pupils enrolled in special schools and special classes. The SNA scheme will continue to be supported and the NCSE will continue to support schools, parents, children and teachers and resources will continue to be allocated to schools to meet children's needs in line with my Department's policy.
