Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 May 2024
302. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Education the number of special educational needs organisers who cover Dublin Mid-West; if all areas in Dublin Mid-West have access to a SENO; the number of vacancies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22639/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 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%. As a result of the additional funding allocated to the NCSE, it is intended to increase the number of SENOs to 120, from the previously sanctioned 73, an increase of over 60%. They NCSE is progressively altering the current team structure, from a regional to a county basis with an assigned number of SENOs for each county.
The new localised structure, which will see SENOs being assigned on a county basis, will be fully operational at the start of the new school year in September. Recruitment is ongoing across a range of grades and there are now 79 SENOs and 16 team managers in place, more than ever before in the NCSE, with a further 31 SENOs starting in the coming months.
Prior to transitioning from the current team structure, the North Dublin team is currently responsible for nine SENO caseloads, and the NCSE have a full complement of staff. By the end of August, they anticipate increasing this to 14 SENOs in the North Dublin area.
In the South Dublin Team, there is one vacancy in the Clondalkin/Ballyfermot area and one SENO on extended leave in Tallaght. Cover is maintained from existing SENO resources and the NCSE have established a dedicated regional phone and email point of contact, specifically catering to parents and schools located in these areas.
As part of the new structure, in Dublin, the number of sanctioned SENOs has been increased by an additional 10, to 28. A recruitment competition is currently underway for the remaining 8 SENOs required for the Dublin region.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of Special Needs Organisers (SENOs), for fulfilling the functions of the Council in relation to the identification, 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.
