Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 September 2015
552. Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Skills if an application has been received by her Department for the provision of accommodation to accommodate a special needs assistant for a school (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33324/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe school in question applied to my Department for funding towards the provision of an additional special education teaching room. My Department has advised the school that the space sought can be provided through reconfiguring existing accommodation. My Department considers that the provision of additional accommodation is therefore not required. The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) for allocating Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support which 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. Details of SNA allocations to schools for 2015/16, including the school referred to by the Deputy, are now available on the NCSE website www.ncse.ie. All schools have the contact details of their local SENO. 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.
