I wish to advise the Deputy that my Departments Learning Support Guidelines, which are available at www.education.ie, recommend that an individual profile and learning programme should be devised for all children who are receiving supplementary teaching from a learning-support teacher. Schools are encouraged to use individual education plans through policy guidance, support, and training.
The National Council for Special Education is responsible through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resources to schools, including resource teaching and Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support, in order to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's established criteria for the allocation of such supports and the staffing resources available to my Department. All schools have the names and contact details of their local NCSE Special Educational Needs Organiser. 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.
Parents who wish to be advised of the educational supports which can be provided for their child in school should contact their local SENO. Should a parent be dissatisfied with the manner in which the resources or facilities which have been provided to support their child's education are being applied in school, or with regard to their child's educational progress in school, they should raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school.
