Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:391. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of SENOs per annum in 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11847/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 20 March 2024
Ceisteanna (391, 392)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Ceist:392. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Education the number of SENO vacancies in Cork city and Cork county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11848/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 391 and 392 together.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special needs Organisers (SENOs), for fulfilling the functions of the Council within a designated area in relation to the identification of and delivery and co-ordination of education services to children with disabilities.
The Council employs SENOs to provide a nationwide system of local services. Locally based SENOs consult widely with parents/guardians, teachers, health care professionals, school authorities, HSE and other relevant government agencies.
It is a priority that the NCSE is properly resourced to have a visible and effective presence in our schools and to guide and support our parents and children on their educational journey. In Budget 2023, the government provided an additional €13 million for the expansion of services within the NCSE. This will mean an increase of up to 161 additional staff in the organisation, a workforce increase of 50%. Within this, provision has been made to increase the number of SENOs nationally by 47, to give a total SENO complement of 120. These SENOs will be organised and targeted into the areas of greatest need and organised on a county basis.
The first intake of new SENO grades has already commenced and 12 additional SENOs joined in February. There will also be a further 20 SENO posts added by end March and an additional 20 posts added by the end of May. The recruitment process allows for training, induction, back-filling and the equitable distribution of cases on a county basis to new SENOs, without disrupting existing service to schools & children.Cork City and county fall under South West Team 1 which currently comprises of 7 SENOs and a team manager. The recent SENO recruitment competition has led to the NCSE extending offers of employment to a further 2 SENOs for this area with more to follow in the coming weeks. East Cork fall under South West Team 2 which currently has 8 SENOs and a team manager.Should any vacancy arise, a SENO point of contact is assigned to the area to assist schools, parents, and local services until the position is filled. Essential services are maintained through cover provided from available staffing resources. Parents should consult the regional contact list on the NCSE website to ensure they have the most up-to-date contact details of their SENO, or the SENO covering for their area.
The following is breakdown of serving SENOs from 2020 to 2024.
|
YEAR |
NUMBER OF SERVING SENOS |
|
2020 |
67 |
|
2021 |
61 |
|
2022 |
65.5 |
|
2023 |
67 |
|
2024 (as of March 24) |
81 |
Question No. 392 answered with Question No. 391.