Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2015
469. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the average amount spent per pupil on special needs assistants in County Meath; and how this compares with the allocation per pupil across the State. [27025/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra470. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the funding allocated for the provision of special needs assistants in County Meath in 2015-16; and the total spent in each year from 2010. [27026/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra471. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of part-time and full-time special needs assistant posts allocated to schools in County Meath in each year since 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27027/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra472. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of part-time special needs assistant posts allocated to each school in County Meath for the upcoming school year. [27028/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra473. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of full-time special needs assistant posts allocated to each school in County Meath for the upcoming school year. [27029/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 469 to 473, inclusive, together.
The National Council for Special Education(NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating SNA support for each school annually taking into account the assessed care needs of children qualifying for SNA support enrolled in the school.
The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support and these criteria are set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014.
All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2015/16 school year by 18th March 2015. The NCSE also continued to accept applications after this date in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed.
On conclusion of this process, the NCSE evaluated the level of SNAs required to meet the needs of schools for the coming year and advised the Department on the quantum of SNAs that would need to be provided to meet this need.
This information was received by the Department on 15th June and my Department is currently working to finalise its consideration of this as quickly as possible.
Details of SNA allocations to schools for 2015/16, including schools in Co Meath, will be available on the NCSE website on completion of this process.
Details of SNA allocations which have been made to schools by the NCSE for the 2012/2013, 2013/14 and 2014/15 school years are available on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie and can be viewed on a per county basis. I will arrange to have the Deputy's question referred to the NCSE for their direct reply in respect of information sought prior to 2012/13.
Finally, I can advise the Deputy that information sought in relation to funding is not available in the format requested. It is important to note that SNA allocations are made on the basis of pupil need rather than by reference to geographical location of schools. Once allocated, it is a matter for schools to deploy the SNA resource in a manner which best meets the care support requirements of the children enrolled in the school for whom SNA support has been allocated. This allows schools flexibility in how the SNA support is utilised.
I can advise the Deputy however that the average salary cost of employing an SNA is €33,000 per annum.
