Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 June 2016
102. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Education and Skills why his Department has declined a special needs assistant for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16341/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to advise the Deputy that the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs) is responsible for processing applications from schools for special educational needs supports. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in making recommendations for support, which is set out in my Department's Circular 0030/2014. All schools were asked to apply for SNA support for the 2016/17 school year by 29th February 2016. The NCSE also continued to accept applications after that date in recognition that enrolments may not have been completed or where assessments were not completed. I announced yesterday, 14th June, 2016, that 860 additional Special Needs Assistants which will be available for allocation to schools from September 2016, which is a 7% increase on the existing availability. This will bring the total number of Special Needs Assistants to 12,900. This increase reflects the growing participation of children with Special Needs in education and will support their full participation and progression within the educational system. The NCSE advised all schools of their allocations for SNA support for the coming 2016/17 school year on 14th June, 2016. Details of the allocations which have been made to schools have now been published on www.ncse.ie. It should also be noted that SNA allocations are not made to individual children, but are made to schools to support the care needs of children with assessed special educational needs in the school. All schools have the contact details of their local SENO, while Parents may also contact their local SENO directly to discuss their child's special educational needs, using the contact details available the NCSE website. As the Deputy's question relates to the allocation of SNA support by the NCSE to an individual child, I have referred this question to the NCSE for their consideration and direct reply to the Deputy.
