Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills the position regarding an appeal for special needs assistant hours in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [45668/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) is responsible, through its network of local Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENOs), for allocating resource teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) to schools to support children with special educational needs. The NCSE operates within my Department's criteria in allocating such support.

The NCSE has introduced an appeals process whereby schools and parents, where appropriate, may seek to appeal the decision of a SENO in relation to the allocation of resources. Information regarding the appeals process is available on the NCSE's website at www.ncse.ie. The NCSE has advised my Department that, to date, it has not received an appeal in respect of the pupil referred to by the Deputy. I have arranged for the details supplied to be forwarded to the NCSE for their attention and direct reply.