Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 May 2018
100. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Education and Skills if a reply will issue to concerns raised by a SNA in correspondence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23854/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you will be aware, I was very pleased to announce on the 18th May 2018 that 800 additional Special Needs Assistants will be allocated for the beginning of the next school year, with a further 140 expected to be allocated by the end of the year.
I was also pleased to be able to make the announcement in May, in keeping with the commitment made last year to inform schools of the September 2018 allocation before the end of May. In making this announcement at this time the Department is providing certainty to schools, parents and of course SNA's in relation to the posts that will be in place for the coming school year.
By the end of this year, there will be a total of 15,000 Special Needs Assistants working in our schools, a 42% increase on 2011. The National Council for Special Education notified the schools of their SNA allocations on 18th May and the details of these allocations are now published and available on their website.
The NCSE has completed a comprehensive review of the SNA scheme, in consultation with other relevant Departments and State Agencies, including the National Disability Authority (NDA), to identify the most appropriate form of support options to provide better outcomes for students with Special Educational Needs, having regard to the significant amount of State investment in this area.
The NCSE has submitted that full and final report of the SNA Comprehensive Review and its contents are currently under consideration. The qualifications of SNAs have been considered as part of this Review.
The NCSE Appeals Process may be invoked by a parent or a school where it is considered that a child was not granted access to SNA support on the grounds that Department policy was not met in accordance with Circular 0030/2014.
Schools may also appeal a decision, where the school considers that the NCSE, in applying Department policy, has not allocated the appropriate level of SNA supports to the school to meet the special educational and/or care needs of the children concerned.
Where a school has received its allocation of SNA support for 2018/19, but wishes new enrolments or assessments to be considered, which were not taken into account when the initial allocation was made, they may continue to make applications to the NCSE. The closing date for receipt of any appeals in regard to SNA allocations is Friday, 28th September 2018.
SNA allocations to all schools can change from year to year as children with care needs leave the school, as new children with care needs enrol in a school and as children develop more independent living skills and their care needs diminish over time.
In terms of the education provision for children who have autism, the Department has always recognised the importance of early intervention. Children with autism can be enrolled in an early intervention class from the age of 3.
Children in early intervention classes benefit from a reduced pupil-teacher ratio of 6:1. Class teachers are fully qualified and have access, through the Special Education Support Service, to training in a range of autism-specific interventions. Each class will have a minimum of 2 Special Needs Assistants.
Children with disabilities now have better access to pre-school services under a new Access and Inclusion Model (AIM) programme of supports, which was announced, on 15th June 2016, by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs.
AIM is a child-centred model, involving seven levels of progressive support, moving from the universal to the targeted, depending on the needs of the child and the pre-school.
Details of the supports which are available under AIM can be found at www.preschoolaccess.ie which contains comprehensive information on the access and inclusion model and on how to apply for the new schemes and supports. As Lorraine is attending a private pre-school through the ECCE programme, questions relating to the AIM supports should be addressed to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
The Department’s policy is that all children enrolled in an Early Intervention Class funded by this Department must have left the class and be enrolled in the primary school system, whether through placement in mainstream classes, in special classes or in special schools in the September prior to their sixth birthday. If children are not in school by six years of age, under the Education Welfare Act 2000, the Educational Welfare service must be satisfied that the child is receiving a minimum standard of education in a place other than a recognised school.
The Department provides for a continuum of provision which includes mainstream school placements with additional supports, or for pupils who require more specialist interventions, special school and special class placements.
Where a Special Needs Assistant with a minimum of one year’s service is made redundant he/she is deemed to be a member of the SNA supplementary panel and can apply for other SNA posts. If a Special Need Assistant does not want to take up another position he/she can opt out of the panel and receive a Redundancy payment. Circular 0034/2018 (Recruitment of SNA’s – Supplementary Assignment Arrangements for 2018/2019 school year) refers.
