Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 May 2014
259. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will withdraw circular 0030-14 regarding special needs assistants and special needs provision in schools which will lead to a serious deterioration in the ability of children to access the SNA resources that they require and which will have a detrimental impact on all. [22828/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraCircular 0030/2014, which issued to schools on 10 April 2014, sets out my Department's policy in relation to the SNA scheme. This Circular clarifies and restates the purpose of the SNA scheme i.e. to provide schools with additional adult support staff who can assist children with special educational needs who also have additional and significant care needs. The Circular provides details of the primary care needs for which SNA support will usually be provided and details the types of secondary care associated tasks which SNAs may often perform. It clarifies the role of the Classroom Teacher and Resource-Learning Support Teachers to provide for the education of a child, and the role of an SNA to support those teachers in assisting with care needs. The role that professional reports play in supporting the SNA scheme is also set out. While professional reports play a valuable role in identifying the needs of a child, responsibility for deciding on the quantum of educational supports to be provided to schools rests with the NCSE, in accordance with DES policy.
In June 2011, the DES published a Value for Money and Policy Review of the SNA scheme. In May 2013, the NCSE published its Policy Advice on Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs in Schools. Both reports concluded that the SNA scheme has been highly successful in supporting the care needs of children with special needs in schools, and with assisting to facilitate their integration and inclusion. However, the reports also concluded that the intended purpose of the scheme was not always generally well understood by parents or schools and that the scope and purpose of the scheme should be clarified for schools.
Whereas all SNA allocations are reviewed annually, it should not be assumed that any such review may lead to a reduction in SNA support for individual pupils, or for schools who have pupils who have continuing care needs. The Circular acknowledges that many pupils will have care needs which may remain constant. However, the Circular makes clear that whereas supports may be reduced to ensure that pupils who have diminishing care needs can be afforded an opportunity to develop independent living skills, SNA supports will continue to be provided for those pupils who have ongoing care needs.
My Department encourages parents and school authorities to engage locally regarding pupils' education. Should a parent be dissatisfied with the manner in which SNA supports have been provided to support their child's education they should raise this matter directly with their school Principal or the Board of Management of the school. 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. Finally, as the Deputy may be aware, in December 2013, this Government increased the cap on the number of SNA posts by 390 posts to 10,965 at the end of 2014 with over 23,000 children currently accessing SNA services.
