Special Educational Needs Staff

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 July 2015

Wednesday, 1 July 2015

Ceisteanna (254, 255)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

254. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding special needs assistants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26638/15]

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

255. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding the National Council for Special Education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26640/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 254 and 255 together.

The Deputy will be aware that 11,330 whole time equivalent Special Needs Assistant (SNA) posts have been made available to the NCSE to allocate to schools to end of the current school year.

This is the highest number of SNAs that we have ever had and it has ensured that children with special educational needs can continue to participate in education and be supported in a manner appropriate to their needs.

This year, the NCSE requested all schools to submit applications for SNA support by mid March 2015. Following this deadline each application had to be assessed by the NCSE before they were in a position to advise the Minister on the quantum of SNAs that would need to be allocated to schools for the coming school year. The final advice on this was received last week, and the Minister will be seeking to confirm allocations to schools over the next ten days.