Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 November 2011
10 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of the 475 special needs assistant posts that were withheld that have been allocated to date; and if he will give a commitment that the 475 special needs assistants will be allocated by the end of the year. [34760/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is responsible for allocating special needs assistants, SNAs, to schools in accordance with my Department's policy. Over the summer the NCSE has advised all mainstream schools of their SNA allocations in respect of valid applications received by 17 June. The NCSE retained 475 out of the total 10,575 SNA posts available to allocate them to valid applications received since 17 June in respect of cases such as emergencies, appeals, acquired injuries or new school entrants with care needs.
The process of allocating these 475 retained posts has now begun. Approximately 20 of the retained posts have already been allocated, bringing the total number of posts allocated to date to 10,120 for the current school year. The NCSE has advised that it expects approximately 300 of the 475 retained posts to have been allocated to schools by the end of November. A number of posts will be required to be retained for allocation during the remainder of the school year.
I thank the Minister for providing an update on this important issue. Some media commentary has been unfair to the Department and National Council for Special Education given the significant progress that has been made in providing special needs assistants. The Minister of State, Deputy Sean Sherlock, spoke in the House about the remarkable progress that has been made in this regard in the past 13 or 14 years. The number of special needs assistants increased from 300 in 1997 to 10,575 in 2010-11. This was much needed progress.
Having had the opportunity to meet senior officials from the National Council for Special Education, I accept that the processing of applications is not straightforward and takes time. I ask the Minister to ensure every effort is made to finalise the 300 additional appointments and have the relevant special needs assistants in classrooms by the end of the month. I presume that when the first school term concludes, the profile of the classroom does not change much during the rest of the school year. It may not be necessary, therefore, to retain 175 special needs assistants. If there are applicants who meet the relevant criteria, the special needs assistant posts should be approved and the relevant SNAs allocated to the classroom. I do not envisage much change in classroom profile between Christmas and the end of the school year.
I am pleased the Deputy took the initiative and met officials from the National Council for Special Education. The Department sets the policy and NCSE officials, who are the experts on the ground, deliver the instruments with which policy can be implemented. I am advised by the NCSE that it is retaining 175 of the 10,575 special needs assistant posts. I will speak to the council to determine whether it would be prudent to release a number of these retained posts. Given that the total number of SNA posts is capped by the employment control framework, I will be advised by the need to retain a prudent number of posts. A post that is available to be filled should not lie fallow.
I understand a briefing has been organised on this issue, which is welcome. When we discussed the allocation of special needs assistants previously the Minister indicated the matter would be reviewed at some point. When will the review be completed? Will the House discuss the review to determine how it is being rolled out?
I strongly urge any Member who has an interest in special needs assistants and the highly emotive area of special educational needs, which is driven by genuine concern among everyone involved, to attend a meeting with Ms Mary Brogan which will be held in the Iveagh Room tomorrow. Details have been circulated to all Deputies. Two weeks ago, I had an opportunity to hear a presentation given by Ms Brogan in which she painted a much bigger picture than that normally painted by individual schools or the parents and relatives of children with special needs. It is not that the schools and parents do not give a comprehensive picture but that Ms Brogan paints a wider picture. I suggest the relevant committee explore this issue with the National Council for Special Education once Members have availed of the opportunity to listen to Ms Brogan's presentation.
One issue that repeatedly crops up — I am sure the Minister has heard concerns expressed about it by colleagues in the House — is a perception that needs assessments lack consistency. If this issue were addressed, it would allay the genuine fears of many parents, families and public representatives.
This issue formed part of the presentation made to me and I have no doubt tomorrow's presentation will be similar. Ms Brogan discussed the relationship between special education needs organisers and professional psychologists, both in the private sector and the National Educational Psychology Service, their experience and the time available to them. These are matters about which all Members should be aware because the SENOs and psychologists are the specialists on the ground.
