Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019
549. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the location of the additional SNA allocations in primary schools in County Kildare for the school year 2019-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33339/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible for allocating a quantum of Special Needs Assistant (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 allocates SNA support to schools in accordance with the criteria set out in Department Circular 0030/2014, which is available on my Department's website at www.education.ie, in order that students who have care needs can access SNA support as and when it is needed.
In considering applications for SNA support for individual pupils, the NCSE take account of the pupils' needs and consider the resources available to the school to identify whether additionality is needed or whether the school might reasonably be expected to meet the needs of the pupils from its current level of resources.
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.
The NCSE publish the allocations for individual schools for each school year and this information is available on their website, www.ncse.ie.
